[Effect of training with immersive virtual reality on the risk of falling in the elderly: a systematic review]. / Efecto del entrenamiento con realidad virtual inmersiva en el riesgo de caída de personas mayores: una revisión sistemática.

Aging entails changes in the human body, generating a decrease in physical capabilities, including the risk of falls. New therapies are currently emerging for the risk of falls and immersive virtual reality is one of them, giving the user a realistic feeling of a virtual environment. This systematic review aims to investigate the effects of immersive virtual reality on the risk of falling in older people. Randomized controlled clinical trials were included, with at least one intervention group that used immersive virtual reality, age >60 years and without multiple serious pathologies. Articles published until November 2023 were included, in accordance with the PRISMA guideline and including the PICO strategy, in the electronic databases PubMed, Scielo, Scopus, Semantic Scholar and Science Direct. From a total of 413 articles, 7 studies were selected, which met the pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of the studies reviewed, the majority found significant improvements in tests that measure risk of falls, only one study did not find improvements in this variable but did find improvements for walking speed and functional reach test. Despite the limited literature, it seems that these interventions can have a positive effect, becoming a good tool to reduce the risk of falling in older people.

Herbicides induce change in metabolic and genetic diversity of bacterial community from a cold oligotrophic lake.

Pristine cold oligotrophic lakes show unique physical and chemical characteristics with permanent fluctuation in temperature and carbon source availability. Incorporation of organic toxic matters to these ecosystems could alter the bacterial community composition. Our goal was to assess the effects of simazine (Sz) and 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) upon the metabolic and genetic diversity of the bacterial community in sediment samples from a pristine cold oligotrophic lake. Sediment samples were collected in winter and summer season, and microcosms were prepared using a ration 1:10 (sediments:water). The microcosms were supplemented with 0.1 mM 2,4-D or 0.5 mM Sz and incubated for 20 days at 10 °C. Metabolic diversity was evaluated by using the Biolog Ecoplate™ system and genetic diversity by 16S rDNA amplification followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis. Total bacterial counts and live/dead ratio were determined by epifluorescence microscopy. The control microcosms showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) in both metabolic and genetic diversity between summer and winter samples. On the other hand, the addition of 2,4-D or Sz to microcosms induces statistical significant differences (P < 0.05) in metabolic and genetic diversity showing the prevalence of Actinobacteria group which are usually not detected in the sediments of these non-contaminated lacustrine systems. The obtained results suggest that contaminations of cold pristine lakes with organic toxic compounds of anthropic origin alter their homeostasis by inhibiting specific susceptible bacterial groups. The concomitant increase of usually low representative bacterial groups modifies the bacterial composition commonly found in this pristine lake.

Fish oil (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids beneficially affect biliary cholesterol nucleation time in obese women losing weight.

It has been reported that intake of (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and decreases biliary cholesterol saturation in the bile of gallstone patients. We investigated the effect of n-3 PUFA on cholesterol saturation index (CSI) and nucleation time (NT) in obese subjects who were losing weight. This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Obese women (n = 35) with a body mass index (BMI) > or = 30 kg/m(2), with no prior history of gallstones or cholecystectomy by ultrasound were first studied to ensure absence of stones or biliary sludge. The women were then assigned to a hypocaloric regimen [5.02 MJ (1200 kcal)/d] and to receive 1200 mg/d of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), 11.3 g/d of (n-3) PUFA or a placebo for 6 wk. BMI, CSI and NT were recorded at baseline and at the end of the experimental period. BMI decreased 5.75 +/- 2.7%/mo (range, 1.5-12.42%/mo) during the experiment. The CSI did not change in any of the groups. Cholesterol NT decreased significantly in the UDCA and placebo groups, but not in the (n-3) PUFA group. None of the women had developed gallstones at 6 wk. These results suggest that (n-3) PUFA maintain the CSI and NT in obese women during rapid weight loss, which probably results in the prevention of cholesterol gallstone formation.

Apical foraminal openings in human teeth. Number and location.

One hundred forty extracted permanent human teeth were prepared for examination with a scanning electron microscope to determine the number of foramina, their distances from the apices, and their locations. In most of the specimens, the root canals deviated to one side and ended short of the apices. Some specimens showed interradicular openings; others had configurations on the top of the apices that were similar to the crest on a helmet.

[Colon and rectum cancer complicated with obstruction: immediate results and long-term follow-up]. / Cáncer de colon y recto complicado con obstrucción: resultados immediatos y seguimiento a largo plazo.

Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of large bowel obstruction in Chile. The aim of this work was to assess the immediate results and long term survival of the surgical treatment of this complication. The clinical features of 113 patients (48 male and 65 female) with a mean age of 65 years, operated in a period of 10 years, were reviewed. The follow up was made by clinic appointments or home visits. The tumor was localized in the right colon in 30 cases, transverse colon in 20, splenic angle in 14, left colon in 39 and rectum in 10. Operative mortality was 34% for tumors of the right colon and 14% form tumors of the left colon. The follow up of the 89 survivors was accomplished in 97% with a mean follow up of 54 months (range 6 months-10 years). The principal prognostic factor was the initial stage of the tumor; survival was 87% for Dukes-Turnbull stage A, 70% for stage B and 32% for stage C1. The maximal survival period for stages D was 28 months. Patients subjected to an initial resective surgical procedure fared better, although not significantly, than colostomized patients. Present tendency is to perform one surgical procedure, avoiding colostomies that worsen patients quality of life and require a second intervention that increases surgical morbidity.