Latex vascular injection as method for enhanced neurosurgical training and skills.

Background: Tridimensional medical knowledge of human anatomy is a key step in the undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, especially in surgical fields. Training simulation before real surgical procedures is necessary to develop clinical competences and to minimize surgical complications. Methods: Latex injection of vascular system in brain and in head-neck segment is made after washing out of the vascular system and fixation of the specimen before and after latex injection. Results: Using this latex injection technique, the vascular system of 90% of brains and 80% of head-neck segments are well-perfused. Latex-injected vessels maintain real appearance compared to silicone, and more flexible vessels compared to resins. Besides, latex makes possible a better perfusion of small vessels. Conclusions: Latex vascular injection technique of the brain and head-neck segment is a simulation model for neurosurgical training based on real experiencing to improve surgical skills and surgical results.

The Vertebrobasilar Trunk and Its Anatomical Variants: A Microsurgical Anatomical Study.

BACKGROUND: The trunk of the basilar artery has not been included in microanatomy studies. Anatomical variants of the perforant branches of the vertebrobasilar trunk and their relationship with neural structures are very important in surgical approaches. Surgical dissection for the treatment of vascular lesions requires a perfect knowledge of the microsurgical anatomy. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive analysis of 50 brains, which were fixed with formalin at 10% for 2 weeks, and the arterial system was injected with colored latex. After microsurgical dissection, it was divided into three segments: the lower portion went from the anterior spinal artery to the anteroinferior cerebellar artery, the middle segment was raised from the upper limit of the lower portion to the origin of the superior cerebellar artery, and the upper segment ranged from the previous portion until the origin of the posterior cerebral artery. RESULTS: The basilar artery had an average length of 30 mm. The average diameter at its junction with the vertebral arteries was 4.05 mm. The average middle segment was 3.4 mm in diameter and 15.2 mm in length. The diameter of the upper segment was 4.2 mm, and its average length was 3.6 mm. The average number of bulbar arteries was three, and their average diameter was 0. 66 mm. The number of caudal perforator arteries were five on average, with a diameter of 0.32 mm. We found three rare cases of anatomical variants in the vertebra-basilar junction. CONCLUSIONS: The basilar artery emits penetrating branches in its lower, middle, and upper portions. The origin of penetrating branches was single or divided after forming a trunk. However, we observed long branches from perforant arteries.

Violencia urbana, "limpieza social" y conflicto armado en Caldas, 1980-2006

Se abordan las formas de violencia que afectan los contextos urbanos, conocidas como "limpieza social", en el departamento de Caldas entre 1980 y 2006. Estas se analizarán junto con el crecimiento de los grupos armados ilegales, con especial énfasis en el paramilitarismo. El objetivo es evidenciar las estrategias discursivas que se aplican por parte de sectores poderosos para estigmatizar ciertas prácticas y actores sociales, principalmente a través de los medios de comunicación. Se apeló al Análisis Crítico del Discurso, aplicado a los enunciados referentes al fenómeno en cuestión, y se siguieron las tesis de Foucault en lo referente a los dispositivos de normalización y la discriminación entre lo normal y lo anormal en la dinámica de las relaciones de poder También se asume la perspectiva moral que se halla en la base de la "limpieza social" y se postulan las razones de su persistencia. Los resultados muestran un proceso que va de la dispersión a la sistematicidad en relación con el exterminio social y sus manifestaciones discursivas. Las conclusiones dan cuenta de la persistencia del fenómeno en contextos contemporáneos.

The forms of violence that affect urban contexts, generally known as "social cleansing", are addressed in the department of Caldas between 1980 and 2006. These will be analyzed along with the growth of the illegal armed groups, with special emphasis on paramilitarism. The objective is to highlight the discursive strategies that are applied by powerful groups to stigmatize certain practices and social actors, mainly through the media. Critical discourse analysis was used, applied to the statements referring the mentioned phenomenon, and Foucault's thesis regarding normalization devices and discrimination between normal and abnormal in the dynamics of power relations were followed. The moral perspective that is at the base of "social cleansing" is also assumed and the reasons for its persistence are postulated. The results show a process that goes from dispersion to systematicity in relation to social extermination and its discursive manifestations. The conclusions show the persistence of the phenomenon in contemporary contexts.

São abordadas as formas de violência que afetam os contextos urbanos, conhecidas como "limpeza social", no departamento de Caldas entre 1980 e 2006. Elas serão analisadas juntamente com o crescimento de grupos armados ilegais, com ênfase especial no paramilitarismo. O objetivo é destacar as estratégias discursivas aplicadas por setores poderosos para estigmatizar determinadas práticas e atores sociais, principalmente por meio da mídia. A Análise Crítica do Discurso foi aplicada às declarações referentes ao fenômeno em questão, e a tese de Foucault foi seguida em relação aos dispositivos de normalização e à discriminação entre o normal e o anormal na dinâmica das relações de poder. Ela também assume a perspectiva moral que está na base da "limpeza social" e postula as razões de sua persistência. Os resultados mostram um proceso que vai da dispersão à sistematicidade em relação ao extermínio social e suas manifestações discursivas. As conclusões mostram a persistência do fenômeno em contextos contemporâneos.

Dilemas bioéticos en el desempeño del médico de la familia en la pesquisa del cáncer colorrectal

Introducción: La calidad del desempeño profesional determina la resolución de problemas de salud pública como el cáncer colorrectal a través de su pesquisa poblacional, en cuya realización, como en toda práctica médica, surgen dilemas bioéticos. Objetivo: Caracterizar los principales dilemas bioéticos en la realización de la pesquisa poblacional del cáncer colorrectal en la atención primaria. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal en 19 médicos de la familia, seleccionados por muestreo simple aleatorio mediante la aplicación de un cuestionario en proceso de validación a través de criterio de expertos y coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. La variable estudiada fue "dilemas bioéticos en la realización de la pesquisa poblacional del cáncer colorrectal", parametrizada en dos dimensiones: valorativa y cognitiva, con cinco y tres indicadores respectivamente. Resultados: El "dilema por temor a realizarse la colonoscopia" fue considerado el de mayor peso, al ser evaluado por 13 médicos (68,4 %) como Muy Importante. El indicador "conocimiento profesional sobre bioética" fue evaluado por la mayoría de los profesionales dentro de los dos niveles superiores de la escala de Likert: cinco médicos (26,3 %) eligieron la categoría Importante, e igual número la de Muy Importante. Conclusiones: Los principales dilemas bioéticos a que se enfrentan los médicos de la familia en su desempeño profesional durante la realización de la pesquisa poblacional del cáncer colorrectal, están caracterizados por las actitudes que asumen los pacientes en relación con la disyuntiva que presupone la realización de la colonoscopia, con sus potenciales riesgos ante un resultado positivo.

Introduction: The quality of professional performance determines the resolution of public health problems such as colorectal cancer through population screening, in whose implementation, as in every medical practice, bioethical dilemmas arise. Objective: To characterize the main bioethical dilemma in carrying out population screening for colorectal cancer in primary care. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive study in 19 family physicians, selected by simple random sampling, by application of a questionnaire in the process of validation through expert criteria and Cronbach alpha coefficient. The variable studied was "bioethical dilemmas in carrying out population screening for colorectal cancer" parameterized in two dimensions: evaluative and cognitive, with 5 and 3 indicators respectively. Results: The "dilemma for fear of having a colonoscopy" was considered the most important, being evaluated by 13 doctors/68.4% as Very Important; The indicator "professional knowledge about bioethics" was evaluated by the majority of professionals within the two upper levels of the Likert scale, 5 doctors (26.3%) chose the category of Important and an equal number the category of Very Important. Conclusions: The main bioethical dilemmas that family doctors face in their professional performance during population screening for colorectal cancer are characterized by the attitudes that patients assume in relation to the dilemma that presupposes performing colonoscopy with its potential risks to a positive result.

Vaccine-linked chemotherapy improves cardiac structure and function in a mouse model of chronic Chagas disease.

Introduction: Chagas disease, caused by chronic infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects 6-7 million people worldwide. The major clinical manifestation of Chagas disease is chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC), which encompasses a spectrum of symptoms including arrhythmias, hypertrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and sudden death. Current treatment is limited to two antiparasitic drugs, benznidazole (BNZ) and nifurtimox, but both have limited efficacy to halt the progression of CCC. We developed a vaccine-linked chemotherapy strategy using our vaccine consisting of recombinant Tc24-C4 protein and a TLR-4 agonist adjuvant in a stable squalene emulsion, in combination with low dose benznidazole treatment. We previously demonstrated in acute infection models that this strategy parasite specific immune responses, and reduced parasite burdens and cardiac pathology. Here, we tested our vaccine-linked chemotherapy strategy in a mouse model of chronic T. cruzi infection to evaluate the effect on cardiac function. Methods: Female BALB/c mice infected with 500 blood form T. cruzi H1 strain trypomastigotes were treated beginning 70 days after infection with a low dose of BNZ and either low or high dose of vaccine, in both sequential and concurrent treatments streams. Control mice were untreated, or administered only one treatment. Cardiac health was monitored throughout the course of treatment by echocardiography and electrocardiograms. Approximately 8 months after infection, endpoint histopathology was performed to measure cardiac fibrosis and cellular infiltration. Results: Vaccine-linked chemotherapy improved cardiac function as evidenced by amelioration of altered left ventricular wall thickness, left ventricular diameter, as well as ejection fraction and fractional shortening by approximately 4 months of infection, corresponding to two months after treatment was initiated. At study endpoint, vaccine-linked chemotherapy reduced cardiac cellular infiltration, and induced significantly increased antigen specific IFN-γ and IL-10 release from splenocytes, as well as a trend toward increased IL-17A. Discussion: These data suggest that vaccine-linked chemotherapy ameliorates changes in cardiac structure and function induced by infection with T. cruzi. Importantly, similar to our acute model, the vaccine-linked chemotherapy strategy induced durable antigen specific immune responses, suggesting the potential for a long lasting protective effect. Future studies will evaluate additional treatments that can further improve cardiac function during chronic infection.

Seno cavernoso: anatomía, histología y terminología.

BACKGROUND: Although the cavernous sinus (CS) has been studied since 1695, its anatomy and name are still under discussion. METHOD: Anatomy and histology of 40 CS from human cadavers were studied, included both from a newborn specimen. RESULTS: Two walls limit the CS, an inferior medial one composed only of the dura's outer layer and a superior lateral one consisting of both dura's layers. Sinusoidal veins pass through the lateral wall of the CS as a transition between venous tributaries and the CS. An endothelial layer covers the inner surface of the CS and the outer surface of the internal carotid artery. The space within the CS shows trabeculae, which are rarer in adults compared to the newborn. The loss of trabeculae in the CS may be a natural process along with life. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the CS is a real sinus, and the term "cavernous sinus" is appropriately applied.

ANTECEDENTES: Si bien el seno cavernoso (SC) ha sido estudiado desde 1695, su anatomía y nombre aún están bajo discusión. MÉTODOS: Se estudiaron la anatomía y la histología de 40 SC de cadáveres humanos, incluyendo los dos de un recién nacido. RESULTADOS: El SC está limitado por dos paredes, una inferomedial compuesta solo por la capa más externa de la duramadre y otra superolateral compuesta por ambas capas de la duramadre. Hay venas sinusoidales que atraviesan la pared lateral del SC formando una transición entre venas tributarias y el SC. Una capa endotelial recubre la superficie interna del SC y la superficie externa de la arteria carótida interna. El espacio dentro del SC presenta trabéculas, las cuales son escasas en el adulto en comparación con el recién nacido. La pérdida de trabéculas en el SC puede ser un proceso natural a lo largo de la vida. CONCLUSIONES: En conclusión, el SC es un verdadero seno, por lo que el término «seno cavernoso¼ se aplica de forma correcta.

A review and p-curve analysis of research on the menstrual cycle correlates of consumer preferences and economic decisions.

A number of studies have been claimed to show that ovarian hormones, whose levels fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle, affect consumer preferences and financial decisions. The present article aims to critically analyze the literature examining associations between the phases of the menstrual cycle (peri-ovulatory vs. non-ovulatory) with particular consumer preferences (especially regarding clothing choices) and economic decisions (especially in regards to economic games and risk-taking). A search for studies was conducted in Web of Science and Scopus between 2004 and 2022, by combining keywords of the menstrual cycle, consumer preferences, and economic decisions. Once articles were selected, we identified the main findings, the characteristics of the population, and the methods for determining the phases of the cycle. We performed a p-curve analysis on previously reported statistically significant effects. These analyses find evidence for associations between peri-ovulatory status and specific consumer preferences, most strongly for appearance-enhancing products. They yield no compelling evidence for associations between peri-ovulatory status and financial decisions and risk-taking. We offer provisional conclusions and call for additional studies that possess sufficient statistical power to detect true meaningful effects, especially in the domain of financial decisions.

Photocatalytic Activity and Self-Cleaning Effect of Coating Mortars with TiO2 Added: Practical Cases in Warm Sub-Humid Climates.

In this study, the photocatalytic activity of coating mortars with synthetized and commercial TiO2 nanoparticles added has been evaluated at 2, 3 and 5% by weight of cement by calculating the degradation efficiency of methyl orange and red wine dyes exposed to both visible-light and UV radiation; also, the self-cleaning effect of coatings exposed to weather conditions (warm sub-humid climate) was assessed. TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol-gel method to a low synthesis temperature and characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results show synthesized TiO2 particles in anatase phase with a crystallite size of 14.69 nm, and hemispherical particles with sizes of submicron order. The addition percentage with the best performance in the coating mortars was 3%, with both commercial and synthesized TiO2; however, coating mortars with synthesized TiO2 exhibited the highest degradation efficiency for both dyes when they were exposed to visible light, while mortars with commercial TiO2 exhibited the highest degradation efficiency when exposed to UV radiation. In addition, in coating mortars with synthesized TiO2, the self-cleaning effect was evident from the beginning of exposure to weather, reaching the largest dye-free surface at the end of exposure. The compressive strength increased significantly in mortars with TiO2 addition.

Terapia antiviral de acción directa para infección del virus de hepatitis C en pacientes en hemodiálisis

Introducción: La infección por el virus C de la hepatitis resulta común en pacientes en hemodiálisis y se considera endémica en estas unidades. El tratamiento utilizado lo componían el interferón pegilado y la ribavirina, combinación que presentaba niveles de toxicidad y baja respuesta. Las drogas actuales aportan mejores resultados. Objetivos: Determinar la eficacia y seguridad de la terapia antiviral de acción directa para la infección del virus de la hepatitis C en pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica en hemodiálisis. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo prospectivo en 19 pacientes en régimen de hemodiálisis y con infección por virus C, pertenecientes al Hospital General Docente "Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy", desde diciembre de 2020 hasta septiembre de 2021," A todos se les prescribió durante 12 semanas Sofosbuvir® 400 mg más Daclatasvir® 60 mg diarios. Se caracterizaron las variables edad, sexo, fibrosis hepática por el índice aspartato-aminotransferasa/plaquetas, reacciones adversas y respuesta viral 12 semanas después del tratamiento. Resultados: La infección predominó en el grupo de 51 a 60 años (36,84 %). La mayoría de los pacientes mostró un índice aspartato-aminotransferasa/plaquetas ≤ 0,5, lo que correspondió con ausencia de fibrosis hepática significativa (14 pacientes). Una minoría de pacientes registró reacciones adversas. No se demostró toxicidad cardiovascular ni hepática. La totalidad de los pacientes manifestaron carga viral no detectable 12 semanas después del tratamiento. Conclusiones: La combinación de Sofosbuvir® con Daclatasvir® para el tratamiento de la infección por virus de la hepatitis C en pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica en tratamiento de hemodiálisis resultó eficaz, bien tolerada y segura.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus infection is common in hemodialysis patients and is considered endemic in these units. The treatment used consisted of pegylated interferon and ribavirin, a combination that presented levels of toxicity and low response. Current drugs bring better results. Objectives: To determine the efficacy and safety of direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus infection in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis. Methods: Prospective descriptive study in 19 patients on hemodialysis and with virus C infection, belonging to "Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy" Teaching General Hospital, from December 2020 to September 2021. All were prescribed for 12 weeks with Sofosbuvir® 400 mg plus Daclatasvir® 60 mg daily. The variables age, sex, liver fibrosis were characterized by the aspartate aminotransferase/platelet index, adverse reactions and viral response 12 weeks after treatment. Results: Infection predominated in the group of 51 to 60 years (36.84%). Most patients showed an aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio ≤ 0.5, corresponding to the absence of significant liver fibrosis (14 patients). A minority of patients reported adverse reactions. No cardiovascular or hepatic toxicity was demonstrated. All patients had an undetectable viral load 12 weeks after treatment. Conclusions: The combination of Sofosbuvir® with Daclatasvir® for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis was effective, well tolerated and safe.

Family still matters: Human social motivation across 42 countries during a global pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused drastic social changes for many people, including separation from friends and coworkers, enforced close contact with family, and reductions in mobility. Here we assess the extent to which people's evolutionarily-relevant basic motivations and goals-fundamental social motives such as Affiliation and Kin Care-might have been affected. To address this question, we gathered data on fundamental social motives in 42 countries (N = 15,915) across two waves, including 19 countries (N = 10,907) for which data were gathered both before and during the pandemic (pre-pandemic wave: 32 countries, N = 8998; 3302 male, 5585 female; M age  = 24.43, SD = 7.91; mid-pandemic wave: 29 countries, N = 6917; 2249 male, 4218 female; M age  = 28.59, SD = 11.31). Samples include data collected online (e.g., Prolific, MTurk), at universities, and via community sampling. We found that Disease Avoidance motivation was substantially higher during the pandemic, and that most of the other fundamental social motives showed small, yet significant, differences across waves. Most sensibly, concern with caring for one's children was higher during the pandemic, and concerns with Mate Seeking and Status were lower. Earlier findings showing the prioritization of family motives over mating motives (and even over Disease Avoidance motives) were replicated during the pandemic. Finally, well-being remained positively associated with family-related motives and negatively associated with mating motives during the pandemic, as in the pre-pandemic samples. Our results provide further evidence for the robust primacy of family-related motivations even during this unique disruption of social life.

Mortalidad por diabetes mellitus en el municipio de Colón, Matanzas. 2011-2021 / Mortality due to diabetes mellitus in the municipality of Colon, province of Matanzas. 2011-2021

RESUMEN Introducción: la diabetes mellitus, considerada uno de los principales problemas de salud a nivel mundial, es de las enfermedades que más caras resultan a la sociedad, debido a su alta y temprana mortalidad. Objetivos: caracterizar el comportamiento de la mortalidad causada por la diabetes mellitus en el municipio de Colón, en los últimos once años. Materiales y métodos: estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de la base de datos de fallecidos de la Dirección Municipal de Salud del municipio de Colón, desde el 1 de enero de 2011 hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2021. Fueron seleccionados 221 sujetos con diabetes mellitus como causa básica de muerte. Las variables independientes fueron: año de fallecimiento, sexo, edad y causa directa de muerte. Los resultados se analizaron con estadística descriptiva, a través del paquete SPSS. Resultados: tendencia creciente de la mortalidad, más acentuada en el año 2021, en el que fallecieron 38 diabéticos. Predominio en mujeres (134) con respecto a hombres (87), y en el grupo etario de 65 años y más (67,4 %). Se identificaron como más frecuentes causas de muerte las enfermedades del corazón (24 %), la bronconeumonía (20,4 %) y la insuficiencia renal crónica (14,9 %). Conclusiones: en el municipio de Colón, la mortalidad por diabetes mellitus ha mostrado una tendencia al alza durante los últimos once años; el predominio en mujeres, personas mayores de 65 años, y las enfermedades del corazón como causas directas de muerte, caracterizaron su comportamiento.

ABSTRACT Introduction: diabetes mellitus, considered one of the main health problems worldwide, is among the diseases resulting more expensive to society, because of its high and early mortality. Objective: to characterize the behavior of mortality caused by diabetes mellitus in the municipality of Colon, in the last eleven years. Materials and methods: descriptive, retrospective study of the database of deaths from the Municipal Health Department of the municipality of Colon, from January 1st 2011 to December 31st, 2021. 221 subjects with diabetes mellitus with diabetes mellitus main cause of death were chosen. The independent variables were: year of death, gender, age and direct cause of death. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, through SPSS package. Results: increasing tendency of mortality, more accentuated in 2021, when 38 diabetic patients died. Women (134) predominated over men (87) and predominated also the age group of 65 years and over (67.4 %). Hearth diseases (24 %), bronchopneumonia (20.4 %), and chronic renal failure (14.9 %) were identified as more frequent causes of death. Conclusions: mortality due to diabetes mellitus has showed an increasing tendency during the last eleven years; the predominance in women, people over 65 years, and hearth diseases as direct causes of death characterized its behavior.

Fundamental social motives measured across forty-two cultures in two waves.

How does psychology vary across human societies? The fundamental social motives framework adopts an evolutionary approach to capture the broad range of human social goals within a taxonomy of ancestrally recurring threats and opportunities. These motives-self-protection, disease avoidance, affiliation, status, mate acquisition, mate retention, and kin care-are high in fitness relevance and everyday salience, yet understudied cross-culturally. Here, we gathered data on these motives in 42 countries (N = 15,915) in two cross-sectional waves, including 19 countries (N = 10,907) for which data were gathered in both waves. Wave 1 was collected from mid-2016 through late 2019 (32 countries, N = 8,998; 3,302 male, 5,585 female; Mage = 24.43, SD = 7.91). Wave 2 was collected from April through November 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic (29 countries, N = 6,917; 2,249 male, 4,218 female; Mage = 28.59, SD = 11.31). These data can be used to assess differences and similarities in people's fundamental social motives both across and within cultures, at different time points, and in relation to other commonly studied cultural indicators and outcomes.

Causas de muerte en pacientes con cáncer colorrectal en el quinquenio 2016-2020. Colón, Matanzas

RESUMEN Introducción: el cáncer colorrectal constituye la tercera causa de muerte por tumores malignos en Cuba. Su estadio en el momento del diagnóstico es el predictor más importante de supervivencia, por lo que al analizar las causas de muerte se puede conocer la precocidad en su detección. Objetivo: determinar las principales causas de muerte de los pacientes fallecidos por cáncer colorrectal. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de las causas de muerte en 149 pacientes con cáncer colorrectal como causa primaria de muerte en el municipio de Colón, entre el 1 de enero de 2016 y el 31 de diciembre de 2020, notificados en el Registro de Fallecidos de la Dirección Municipal de Salud. Las variables independientes utilizadas fueron: sexo, grupos etarios, edad, causa directa de muerte, causa de sepsis. Resultados: predominó el sexo femenino en los pacientes fallecidos por cáncer colorrectal (53 %). La mortalidad se incrementó a partir de los 60 años de edad (124 pacientes, para un 83,2 %). La causa directa de muerte predominante fue la toxemia cancerígena (61,1 %), seguida de la sepsis (28,1 %) y el tromboembolismo pulmonar (3,4 %). Conclusiones: las causas de muerte de los pacientes con cáncer colorrectal en el municipio Colón, en el quinquenio 2016-2020, fueron indicativas de enfermedad neoplásica en estadio avanzado y de diagnóstico tardío.

ABSTRACT Introduction: colorectal cancer is the third cause of death due to malignant cancer in Cuba. Its stage at the time of diagnosis is the most important predictor of survival, so when analyzing the causes of death it is possible to know the precocity in its detection. Objective: to determine the main causes of death in patients who died of colorectal cancer. Materials and methods: a retrospective descriptive study of the causes of death was carried out in 149 patients with colorectal cancer as the primary cause of death in the municipality of Colon, between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020, recorded in the Death Registry of the Municipal Health Directorate. The independent variables used were: gender, age groups, age, direct cause of death, cause of sepsis. Results: female sex predominated in patients who died due to colorectal cancer (53 %). Mortality increased after the age of 60 years (124 patients, for 83.2 %). The predominant direct cause of death was carcinogenic toxemia (61.1 %), followed by sepsis (28.1 %) and pulmonary thromboembolism (3.4 %). Conclusions: the causes of death of patients with colorectal cancer in the municipality of Colón in the five-year period 2016-2020 period were indicative of advanced stage neoplastic disease and late diagnosis.

Long-term Mate Selection in Latin America: An Analysis of Personal Ads / Selección de Parejas a Largo Plazo en Latinoamérica: Un Análisis de Anuncios Personales

Abstract The present work aims to study which factors are relevant in long-term mate selection from a lonely-hearts personal advertisement sample of Spanish-speaking consumers of Cosmopolitan Magazine, Colombian Edition. We analyzed One thousand four hundred sixty-eight publications (made by 770 men and 698 women) using a coding system based on the theories of sexual strategies, genetic quality indicators, and the preferences classification used in personal ads studies. Initially, we found trends as a greater predilection for psychological attributes and a greater demand to require more traits than offering them. In addition, the cross-cultural pattern demonstrated that men prefer women's physical characteristics, while women require status/resources by men. Finally, men tended to be more selective in the age range of 36-45 years, while women's selectivity decreased with age. The results replicate many of the patterns found in investigations related to human sexual selection, also bring enlightenment about new preference dimensions to study in the future.

Resumen La presente investigación examina las preferencias de individuos que buscan emparejarse a largo plazo, por medio del análisis de anuncios de búsqueda de parejas, publicados por una muestra de usuarios hispanohablantes de la edición Colombiana de la Revista Cosmopolitan. Se revisaron 1468 publicaciones (de 770 hombres y 698 mujeres) utilizando un sistema de codificación construido a partir de la teoria de estrategias sexuales, indicadores de calidad genética y clasificaciones usadas en estudios de anuncios personales. Los usuarios reportaron una mayor atención por atributos psicológicos, además de una alta exigencia. Adicionalmente, los hombres solicitaron más características fisicas de las mujeres, y las mujeres más indicadores asociados al estatus y recursos de los hombres. Los hombres se mostraron más selectivos entre los 36 y los 45 anos, mientras que la selectividad de las mujeres disminuyó con la edad. Los resultados replican patrones encontrados en las investigaciones sobre emparejamiento sexual humano, y dan luces sobre nuevos dominios de preferencia para examinar en el futuro.

Short term exposure to ambient air pollutants and cardiovascular emergency department visits in Mexico city.

Available data on the acute cardiovascular effect of ambient air pollution (AAP) in Latin America is limited considering that over 80% of its 1 billion inhabitants live in urban settlements with poor air quality. The study aim was to evaluate the association between Cardiovascular Emergency Department Visits (CEDVs) and AAP in Mexico City from 2016 to 2019 using generalized additive models with distributed lags to examine the percentage change of CEDVs and a backward approach of time-series model to calculate attributable fractions. A total of 48,891 CEDVs were recorded in a period of 1019 days. We estimated a significant percentage increase for each 10 µg/m3 of PM10 at Lag0-5 (2.8%, 95%CI 0.6-5.0), PM2.5 at Lag0-6 (3.7%, 95%CI 0.1-7.6), O3 at Lag0-5 (1.1%, 95%CI 0.2-2.0), NO2 at Lag0-4 (2.5%, 95%CI 0.3-4.7) and for each 1 mg/m3 of CO at Lag0 (6.6%, 95%CI 0.3-13.2). Overall, 10.3% of CEDVs in Mexico City may be related to PM10 exposure, 9.5% to PM2.5, 10.3% to O3, 11% to NO2 and 5.7% to CO. AAP significantly increase cardiovascular morbidity impacting on emergency medical services.

La risa contagiosa como vocalización provocadora de expresiones faciales y electromiográficas relacionadas con emociones positivas en los oyentes / Contagious laughter as a provocative vocalization of facial and electromyographic expressions related to positive emotions in listeners

Resumen A pesar de su relevancia para la comprensión de la expresión emocional vocal, el estudio de la risa contagiosa se encuentra en sus primeras etapas de investigación y aún no se ha establecido su naturaleza ni la de las respuestas que esta provoca. Teniendo esto en cuenta, el propósito de este estudio fue determinar si los estímulos acústicos de risa contagiosa, además de generar conductas de risa o sonrisa, provocan en los oyentes las expresiones faciales, electromiográficas y cardíacas de una emoción positiva. Para esto, se contó con la participación de 60 universitarios de ambos sexos con edades entre los 18 y los 30 años en un diseño experimental intrasujeto con mediciones en la condición de línea de base y en exposiciones a diferentes estímulos de risa contagiosa, donde se verificaron tres hipótesis en las que se comparó expresiones faciales de alegría (medidas con el software FaceReader), amplitud electromiográfica (EMG) del músculo cigomático mayor (medida con el módulo EMG-100 del Biopac) e intervalos R-R como indicadores de frecuencia cardíaca (medidos con el módulo ECG-100 del Biopac) entre las diferentes condiciones. Como resultado, se encontraron diferencias significativas en los porcentajes de las expresiones faciales de alegría y amplitud EMG del cigomático al comparar las condiciones de línea de base y estímulos de risa más contagiosa, y de risas más y menos contagiosas; no obstante, no se encontraron diferencias significativas en los intervalos R-R en ninguna de las condiciones comparadas. Como conclusión, se comprobó la naturaleza emocional positiva de la risa/sonrisa provocada por estímulos de risa contagiosa y la proporcionalidad entre la intensidad de las expresiones faciales y las respuestas EMG elicitadas por esta risa y el grado de contagio percibido de la misma.

Abstract Despite its relevance for the understanding of vocal emotional expression, the study of contagious laughter is in its early stages of research and neither its nature nor the nature of the responses it provokes have not yet been established. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the acoustic stimuli of contagious laughter, in addition to generating laughter or smiling behaviors, elicit in listeners the facial, electromyographic and heart expressions of a positive emotion. To this end, 60 university students of both sexes, aged between 18 and 30 years participated in an intrasubject experimental design with measurements in the baseline condition and in exposures to different contagious laughter stimuli, where three hypotheses were tested comparing facial expressions of joy (measured with the FaceReader software), electromyographic amplitude (EMG) of the zygomaticus major muscle (measured with the Biopac EMG-100 module) and RR intervals as indicators of heart rate (measured with the Biopac ECG-100 module) between the different conditions. As a result, significant differences were found in the percentages of facial expressions ofjoy and zygomatic EMG amplitude when comparing the baseline and stimulus conditions of more contagious laughter, and more and less contagious laughter. However, no significant differences were found in the R-R intervals in any of the compared conditions. In conclusion, the positive emotional nature of laughter / smile caused by contagious laughter stimuli and the proportionality between the intensity of the facial expressions and EMG responses elicited by this laughter and the perceived degree of contagiousness of laughter were verified.

La risa contagiosa como estímulo incondicionado en condicionamiento clásico de actitudes hacia marcas comerciales / Contagious Laughter as an Unconditioned Stimulus in Classical Conditioning of Attitudes Towards Commercial Brands

Resumen La literatura sobre condicionamiento clásico de actitudes (CCA) no reporta utilización de vocalizaciones humanas para crear o intensificar actitudes. El propósito del estudio fue comprobar la capacidad de los estímulos acústicos de risa contagiosa para originar actitudes positivas hacia marcas comerciales neutras cuando estos se utilizan como estímulos incondicionados en CCA. Participaron 60 universitarios de ambos sexos con edades entre 18 y 30 años y con base en un diseño experimental intrasujeto se aplicó el CCA, que implicó apareamiento simultáneo de marcas comerciales neutras con risas más y menos contagiosas. Se verificaron 5 hipótesis que compararon actitudes explícitas (medidas con diferencial semántico) e implícitas (medidas mediante un priming evaluativo y amplitud electromiográfica —EMC— del músculo cigomático) entre el pre- y el poscondicionamiento y entre marcas condicionadas con risas más vs. menos contagiosas. .on respecto a línea de base, se observaron mayores actitudes explícitas poscondicionamiento hacia marcas comerciales apareadas con risas más contagiosas; no se encontraron diferencias actitudinales explícitas entre marcas condicionadas con risas más vs. menos contagiosas. Sólo se evidenciaron diferencias actitudinales implícitas entre el pre y el poscondicionamiento de la marca comercial apareada con risa masculina más contagiosa. No se observaron diferencias en la amplitud EMG del cigomático entre el pre y el poscondicionamiento ni entre marcas comerciales apareadas con risas más vs. menos contagiosas. Concluimos que la risa contagiosa tiene capacidad para transferir valencia afectiva a estímulos neutros y no siempre se observa concordancia entre las actitudes explícitas e implícitas poscondicionamiento.

Abstract The literature on classical conditioning of attitudes (CCA) does not report the use of human vocalizations to create or intensify attitudes. This study aimed to test the ability of contagious laughter acoustic stimuli to elicit positive attitudes towards neutral commercial brands when used as unconditioned stimuli in CCA. 60 university students of both genders, aged between 18 and 30 years, participated. Based on an intra-subject experimental design the CCA was applied, which involved the simultaneous pairing of neutral commercial brands with more and less contagious laugher. Five hypotheses were tested comparing explicit (measured with semantic differential) and implicit attitudes (measured by evaluative priming and electromyographic amplitude -EMG- of the zygomatic muscle) between pre- and postconditioning and between commercial brands conditioned with more vs less contagious laugher. Concerning the baseline, there were greater explicit postconditioning attitudes towards commercial brands paired with more contagious laughter; no explicit attitudinal differences were found between brands conditioned with more vs. less contagious laughter. Only implicit attitudinal differences were evidenced between pre- and postconditioning for the commercial brand paired with the most contagious male laughter. No differences in the zygomatic EMG amplitude were observed between pre- and postconditioning or between commercial brands paired with more vs. less contagious laughter. We conclude that contagious laughter has the capacity to transfer affective valence to neutral stimuli and that concordance is not always observed between explicit and implicit postconditioning attitudes.

Asociación entre mortalidad por Covid-19 y contaminación atmosférica en ciudades mexicanas / Association between Covid-19 mortality and atmospheric pollution in Mexican cities

Resumen: Objetivo: Analizar la asociación entre la exposición crónica a contaminantes atmosféricos y la tasa de mortalidad por Covid-19 en ciudades mexicanas. Material y métodos: Estudio ecológico en 25 ciudades mexicanas utilizando el reporte de casos diarios de muertes por Covid-19 (febrero a junio 2020) y datos validados de contaminantes atmosféricos, considerando concentraciones promedio en cada ciudad en el último año. Se utilizaron modelos de regresión Poisson, con modelos aditivos generalizados y variables de ajuste. Resultados: Se encontró un incremento significativo de 3.5% (IC95% 2.3-4.7) en la tasa de mortalidad por Covid-19 por incremento de 1µg/m3 de NO2. La asociación con PM2.5 fue no significativa, con un incremento de 1.8% por cada µg/m3. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren una asociación entre la mortalidad por Covid-19 y la exposición a NO2. Esta primera aproximación del riesgo asociado con la contaminación del aire requiere de análisis más precisos, pero es consistente con estudios de otras regiones.

Abstract Objective: To analyze the relationship between chronic exposures to air pollution with Covid-19 death rate in Mexican cities. Materials and methods: Ecological study in 25 Mexican cities using the report of daily Covid-19 deaths (from February to June 2020) and validated data of air pollutants, considering average concentrations in each city for the last year. Poisson regression models using generalized additive models with adjustment variables (GAM) were used. Results: A significant increase of 3.5% (95% CI 2.3-4.7) was found in Covid-19 death rate for each 1µg/m3 in annual concentration of NO2. The association with PM2.5 was not significant, with an increase of 1.8% for each 1µg/m3. Conclusions: Results suggest an association between Covid-19 mortality and chronic exposure to NO2. This first approximation of the risk associated with air pollution requires a more precise analysis, but is consistent with what was observed in other studies.

An unusual extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma presenting as chronic laryngitis: A case report.

RATIONALE: Nasal-type, extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma is a rare lymphoma. The tumor usually shows ulcerative and necrotic lesions in the nasal cavities and sinuses. Tissue involvement outside the nasal cavity is uncommon. PATIENT CONCERN: We describe a 30-year-old man with a 2-month history of hoarseness, weight loss, and dyspnea. DIAGNOSIS: Magnetic resonance image (MRI) showed edema of the larynx with obliteration of the airway. Laryngoscopic examination described necrotic tissue in the glottis and larynx. The biopsy showed chronic, necrotizing laryngitis, with no granulomas, vasculitis, or atypical cells. The immunologic and microbiologic study was negative. Later, after immunosuppressive therapy, the patient presented erythema and diffuse enlargement of the right arm. MRI showed myositis of the biceps and brachial muscles. Infection was rule out, and direct microscopy showed an extensive muscle infiltration by mononuclear cells and abundant mitosis. Immunohistochemistry was positive for CD3, CD8, Ki 67 (90%), and CD56 compatible with extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma. INTERVENTIONS: The patient initially received immunosuppression treatments (corticoids, cyclofosfamide, and Rituximab) with relapsing episodes. When lymphoma was diagnosed, chemotherapy was started. OUTCOMES: The patient died during chemotherapy. LESSONS: Nasal-type, extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma should be suspected even when there are no classical findings of neoplasms on histology. Immunohistochemistry is mandatory to rule it out.