Ecological Niche Models of Four Hard Tick Genera (Ixodidae) in Mexico.

Ticks are vectors of a large number of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, and in recent years, they have participated in the rise of multiple infectious outbreaks around the world. Studies have proposed that temperature and precipitation are the main variables that limit the geographical distribution of ticks. The analysis of environmental constraints with ecological niche modeling (ENM) techniques can improve our ability to identify suitable areas for emergence events. Algorithms used in this study showed different distributional patterns for each tick genera; the environmental suitability for Amblyomma includes warm and humid localities below 1000 m above the sea level, while Ixodes is mainly associated with ecosystems with high vegetation cover. Dermacentor and Rhipicephalus genus presented wider distribution patterns; the first includes species that are well adapted to resist desiccation, whereas the latter includes generalist species that are mostly associated with domestic hosts in Mexico. Ecological niche models have proven to be useful in estimating the geographic distribution of many taxa of ticks. Despite our limited knowledge of tick's diversity, ENM can improve our understanding of the dynamics of vector-borne diseases and can assist public health decision-making processes.

Helminth Fauna Associated with Three Neotropical Bat Species (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae) in Veracruz, México.

Bats are recognized as potential hosts of pathogens exploiting the food chain to reach them as definitive hosts. However, very little is known about their endoparasites, especially for Neotropical bats. In this study, we assessed the helminth fauna associated with 3 insectivorous bat species roosting in the same single hot cave in central Veracruz, México: Mormoops megalophylla, Pteronotus davyi, and Pteronotus personatus. During a period of 1 yr (April 2007-2008), 135 mormoopid bats in total were collected and examined for helminths. Six parasite species representing 3 types of intestinal helminths were found: 1 cestode Vampirolepis elongatus; 2 trematodes Maxbraunium tubiporum and Ochoterenatrema labda; and 3 nematodes Linustrongylus pteronoti, Molineidae gen. sp., and Capillaria sp. Overall, trematodes were the most abundant parasite group (72.4%), followed by nematodes (20.7%) and cestodes (6.9%). Species-accumulation curves suggest that the worms collected (n = 1,331) from these 6 parasite species comprise the helminth fauna associated with the 3 bat populations studied. The only species shared by the 3 bat species was Capillaria sp. Most (5/6) of the helminth species recorded use Lepidoptera and Diptera as intermediate hosts; therefore, diet is likely the main source of infection. Although insectivorous bats are considered dietary generalist species, the differences found in helminth diversity in these sympatric populations of closely related bat species, suggest that diet partitioning occurs in mormoopid bat communities. Helminths tend to exploit the food chain to reach their final hosts; therefore, studying these parasites can provide useful information to further understand the biology of bats.

Raloxifene: mechanism of action, effects on bone tissue, and applicability in clinical traumatology practice.

Raloxifene, a member of the class of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM), reproduces the beneficial effects of estrogens on the skeletal systems, without the negative effects estrogens on breast and endometrium. This is a review article summarizing its mechanism, effects on bone and its applicability in traumatology clinical practice. In postmenopausal osteoporosis, this drug has been proven to decrease accelerated bone turnover, increase bone mineral density (BMD), and to structurally recover bone, decreasing the risk of vertebral fractures and the risk of non-vertebral fractures in patients with previous, severe vertebral fractures. Moreover, raloxifene appears to lower the risk of invasive breast cancer. Raloxifene would be efficacious in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.We can therefore conclude that raloxifene would be efficacious in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, while reducing the risk of breast cancer when used at the indicated dose of 60 mg/day and with a low incidence of side effects.

Medicina e historia: a propósito del caso de un hombre con un tumor en la frente / Medicine and history: concerning a man with a tumor on his forehead

This case report is about the sickness of a 59 year old priest, politician and war veteran who died in 1844. The case history is based on the detailed report of his doctor, gathered in a diary and later published. The collected clinical data relied exclusively on touch and observation. The patient's illness started with a painful lump on his forehead that was in part excised. Surgical exploration revealed a soft tissue mass that bled easily and involved the frontal bone. In the following months, the lesion, which had been treated with complex topical medications, became ulcerated and extended to the orbit and the chin. The patient died postrated and in severe undernutrition one year after the onset of the symptoms. The case discussion, presented in the format of a clinicopathological conference, concluded that a metastasis of a renal cell carcinoma or an osseous lymphoma were the more likely diagnoses.

Medicina e historia: a propósito del caso de un hombre con un tumor en la frente / Medicine and history: concerning a man with a tumor on his forehead

This case report is about the sickness of a 59 year old priest, politician and war veteran who died in 1844. The case history is based on the detailed report of his doctor, gathered in a diary and later published. The collected clinical data relied exclusively on touch and observation. The patients illness started with a painful lump on his forehead that was in part excised. Surgical exploration revealed a soft tissue mass that bled easily and involved the frontal bone. In the following months, the lesion, which had been treated with complex topical medications, became ulcerated and extended to the orbit and the chin. The patient died postrated and in severe undernutrition one year after the onset of the symptoms. The case discussion, presented in the format of a clinicopathological conference, concluded that a metastasis of a renal cell carcinoma or an osseous lymphoma were the more likely diagnoses. (Au)

Modificaciones acústicas producidas por el bloqueo completo de rama izquierda en la cardiomiopatía hipertrófica obstructiva / Acoustic modifications produced by leftbundle branch block in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

El soplo de la Cardiomiopatía Hipertrófica Obstructiva (CMHO) sufre variaciones de intensidad por diversos factores fisiológicos, patológicos, y por la administración de fármacos. Se presenta el caso de un hombre de 62 años de edad portador de una CMHO y un bloqueo completo de rama izquierda (BCRI) intermitente con el objeto de evaluar las modificaciones que dicho trastorno de conducción puede producir en esta entidad. El soplo disminuía de intensidad cuando el BCRI estaba presente. Se postula la hipótesis de que el gradiente en esos momentos disminuye por la contracción asincrónica del ventrículo izquierdo, contracción septal precoz, y retardo de la contracción de la pared libre debido a la interrupción de la conducción por la rama izquierda del haz de His (AU)

Modificaciones acústicas producidas por el bloqueo completo de rama izquierda en la cardiomiopatía hipertrófica obstructiva / Acoustic modifications produced by leftbundle branch block in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

El soplo de la Cardiomiopatía Hipertrófica Obstructiva (CMHO) sufre variaciones de intensidad por diversos factores fisiológicos, patológicos, y por la administración de fármacos. Se presenta el caso de un hombre de 62 años de edad portador de una CMHO y un bloqueo completo de rama izquierda (BCRI) intermitente con el objeto de evaluar las modificaciones que dicho trastorno de conducción puede producir en esta entidad. El soplo disminuía de intensidad cuando el BCRI estaba presente. Se postula la hipótesis de que el gradiente en esos momentos disminuye por la contracción asincrónica del ventrículo izquierdo, contracción septal precoz, y retardo de la contracción de la pared libre debido a la interrupción de la conducción por la rama izquierda del haz de His

La centellografía de perfusión de miocardio con talio 201 en la enfermedad coronaria; importancia del coeficiente fraccional (k) de lavado segmentario del isotopo / Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with Thallium 201 in coronary disease; importance of the fractional coefficient (k) of segmental washout of the isotope

Se estudiaron 20 pacientes con TI 201 posterior al ejercicio supino, con imágenes secuenciales de miocardio en múltiples posiciones. La centellografía se interpretó visualmente y cuantificando la actividad regional del Tl 201, calculándose por regresión lineal, el coeficiente fraccional (K) de lavado segmentario. Se analizaron 60 segmentos divididos según la severidad arteriográfica de estenosis coronaria en: a) 24 segmentos con estenosis no significativa: usados para establecer el criterio cuantitativo de normalidad; el límite superior desviado 2DS de la media fue -0,0042. La especificidad de ambas interpretaciones fue del 96 y 100%; b) 7 segmentos con estenosis moderada; c) 19 segmentos con estenosis severa, y d) 10 segmentos con estenosis de infarto. La sensibilidad de la interpretación visual y del método cuantitativo para detectar las diferentes estenosis fue: nula y del 42,8% para las moderadas; del 57,8 y 56,6% para las severas y del 100 y 20% para las de infarto. El método cuantitativo aumentó al visual la detección de las estenosis individuales severas de la ADAI del 62,5 al 87,5%, de la ACI del 50 al 75%, de la ACD del 66,6% al 100% y para detectar la enfermedad de múltiples vasos en presencia de IAM previo del 66,6 al 77,7%. Concluimos que el coeficiente fraccional (K) de lavado segmentario del Tl 201 debe ser incorporado a la interpretación visual de la centellografía de miocardio para el diagnóstico de enfermedad coronaria (AU)

La centellografía de perfusión de miocardio con talio 201 en la enfermedad coronaria; importancia del coeficiente fraccional (k) de lavado segmentario del isotopo / Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with Thallium 201 in coronary disease; importance of the fractional coefficient (k) of segmental washout of the isotope

Se estudiaron 20 pacientes con TI 201 posterior al ejercicio supino, con imágenes secuenciales de miocardio en múltiples posiciones. La centellografía se interpretó visualmente y cuantificando la actividad regional del Tl 201, calculándose por regresión lineal, el coeficiente fraccional (K) de lavado segmentario. Se analizaron 60 segmentos divididos según la severidad arteriográfica de estenosis coronaria en: a) 24 segmentos con estenosis no significativa: usados para establecer el criterio cuantitativo de normalidad; el límite superior desviado 2DS de la media fue -0,0042. La especificidad de ambas interpretaciones fue del 96 y 100%; b) 7 segmentos con estenosis moderada; c) 19 segmentos con estenosis severa, y d) 10 segmentos con estenosis de infarto. La sensibilidad de la interpretación visual y del método cuantitativo para detectar las diferentes estenosis fue: nula y del 42,8% para las moderadas; del 57,8 y 56,6% para las severas y del 100 y 20% para las de infarto. El método cuantitativo aumentó al visual la detección de las estenosis individuales severas de la ADAI del 62,5 al 87,5%, de la ACI del 50 al 75%, de la ACD del 66,6% al 100% y para detectar la enfermedad de múltiples vasos en presencia de IAM previo del 66,6 al 77,7%. Concluimos que el coeficiente fraccional (K) de lavado segmentario del Tl 201 debe ser incorporado a la interpretación visual de la centellografía de miocardio para el diagnóstico de enfermedad coronaria