[Evaluation of the crossed cerebro-cerebellar activation to determine language lateralization in patients with brain tumors]. / Evaluación de la actividad cerebro-cerebelar cruzada para determinar la lateralidad del lenguaje en pacientes con tumores cerebrales.

BACKGROUND: The crossed cerebro-cerebellar (CCC) activation facilitates the diagnosis of cortical language lateralization, but needs to be explored with language tasks suitable for patients with different age ranges, educational attainment and eventual presence of language deficits. AIM: To determine the effect of demographic variables in the performance of three language tasks in healthy volunteers and to determine the CCC activation of these tasks as a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm in brain tumor patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The behavioral performance (correct responses and reaction time) of three language tasks (verbal fluency, semantic and phonological decision tasks) was first examined in 76 healthy volunteers balanced by age and educational level. Later, these tasks were implemented as fMRI paradigms to explore CCC language activation of 20 patients with potential diagnosis of brain tumors. RESULTS: The performance of the verbal fluency task was affected by age. The CCC language activation was reproducible with the semantic and phonological tasks. The combination of the tasks determined typical and atypical language lateralization in 60% and 40% of our patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The verbal fluency task must be implemented with care as a clinical fMRI paradigm. Our results suggest that semantic and phonological tasks can be a good alternative for brain tumor patients with language deficits.

Blood lead levels in indigenous peoples living close to oil extraction areas in the Peruvian Amazon.

BACKGROUND: High blood lead levels (BLLs) have been previously reported in indigenous people living in communities in the northern Peruvian Amazon. Oil extraction activities have been conducted in the area since the 1970s and have been identified as a source of lead exposure. OBJECTIVE: Measure BLL and assess risk factors associated with BLL among indigenous populations from four river basins of the northern Peruvian Amazon. METHODS: Participants from 39 communities were selected using a two-stage stratified random selection strategy and were visited between May and June 2016. Information on risk factors was collected using structured questionnaires and blood samples were taken. Overall, complete information was available from 1047 individuals (309 < 12 years old, 738 ≥ 12 years). BLL was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry in a graphite chamber. Weighted linear logistic regression models were used to study the association between socio-demographic variables, self-reported life-style factors, environmental, geographical and occupational exposures and BLLs. RESULTS: Geometric mean (95% CI) BLL was 4.9 (4.5, 5.4) µg/dL in participants <12 years and 5.7 (5.4, 6.0) µg/dL in older participants. There were marked differences in BLL between river basins with the highest levels observed in the Corrientes river basin [8.1 (7.2, 9.1) µg/dL <12 years and 8.8 (8.0, 9.6) µg/dL older participants]. High BLL was associated with older age, being male, living in the Pastaza, Tigre or Corrientes river basins and consumption of fish offal in children and adults. Increased Euclidean distance between residence and oil production facilities was associated with a small reduction in BLL. CONCLUSION: BLLs that pose a health risk were detected in the study population of a non-industrialized and remote area of the Amazon. The highest BLLs were observed in those river basins where relative oil extraction activity and environmental levels of contaminants have been reported to be greatest.

Evaluación de la actividad cerebro-cerebelar cruzada para determinar la lateralidad del lenguaje en pacientes con tumores cerebrales / Evaluation of the crossed cerebro-cerebellar activation to determine language lateralization in patients with brain tumors

Background: The crossed cerebro-cerebellar (CCC) activation facilitates the diagnosis of cortical language lateralization, but needs to be explored with language tasks suitable for patients with different age ranges, educational attainment and eventual presence of language deficits. Aim: To determine the effect of demographic variables in the performance of three language tasks in healthy volunteers and to determine the CCC activation of these tasks as a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm in brain tumor patients. Material and Methods: The behavioral performance (correct responses and reaction time) of three language tasks (verbal fluency, semantic and phonological decision tasks) was first examined in 76 healthy volunteers balanced by age and educational level. Later, these tasks were implemented as fMRI paradigms to explore CCC language activation of 20 patients with potential diagnosis of brain tumors. Results: The performance of the verbal fluency task was affected by age. The CCC language activation was reproducible with the semantic and phonological tasks. The combination of the tasks determined typical and atypical language lateralization in 60% and 40% of our patients, respectively. Conclusions: The verbal fluency task must be implemented with care as a clinical fMRI paradigm. Our results suggest that semantic and phonological tasks can be a good alternative for brain tumor patients with language deficits.

Uso de marcadores genotoxicológicos para la evaluación de agricultores expuestos a plaguicidas organofosforados / Use of genotoxic markers for the evaluation of farmers exposed to organophosphorous pesticides

Los plaguicidas organofosforado son compuestos utilizados para el control de plagas en actividades agrícolas; genera exposición ocupacional asociada a posibles intoxicaciones agudas y crónicas que se manifiestan por alteraciones a nivel bioquímico, molecular y genético, los cuales pueden ser evaluados mediante el uso de marcadores genotoxicológicos. Objetivo. Determinar el uso de marcadores genotoxicológicos para la evaluación de agricultores expuestos a plaguicidas organofosforados. Diseño.Observacional, analítico, transversal con grupo control. Lugar. Empresa de agroexportación de espárragos en el Distrito de Virú, La Libertad. Intervenciones. Se determinó la actividad enzimática de la colinesterasa sérica (BChE) y eritrocitaria (AChE), y se hizo ensayos de genotoxicidad (aberraciones cromosómicas, ensayo cometa y micronúcleos) en 59 trabajadores expuestos a plaguicidas (grupo expuesto) y 50 personas sin exposición a plaguicidas (grupo control). Principales medidas de resultados. Actividad enzimática de la colinesterasa sérica (BChE) y eritrocitaria (AChE), y ensayos de genotoxicidad (aberraciones cromosómicas, ensayo cometa y micronúcleos). Resultados. Las edades promedio del grupo expuesto y control fueron de 39,6±10,8 y 34,0±11,5 años, respectivamente. En referencia a la actividad BChE, se encontró diferencia significativa (p<0,001) entre el grupo expuesto (4 733.0±1 350.1 U/L) y control (7 075.0±1 674.0 U/L). Caso contrario se presentó en la actividad AChE entre el grupo expuesto (4 867,0±632,2 U/L) y control (5 051,0±505,5 U/L). Además, se evidenció la inhibición de ambas enzimas en 9 trabajadores expuestos por debajo del valor de referencia. No se evidenció diferencias significativas en los marcadores genotoxicológicos, a excepción del recuento de micronúcleos, puentes nucleoplásmicos, gemaciones, binucleaciones celulares y cariorexis de células de epitelio bucal; y en la evaluación del daño al ADN mediante el ensayo cometa (p<0,05)...

Organophosphorous pesticides are compounds used to control pests in agricultural activities. They generate potential occupational exposure associated with acute and chronic poisoning manifested by biochemical, molecular and genetic alterations that may be assessed using genotoxic markers. Objective: To evaluate genotoxicologic markers use for assessing farmers exposed to organophosphate pesticides. Design: Observational, analytical, cross-sectional study with control group. Institution: Asparagus Agro Exportation Company in District of Virú, La Libertad. Interventions: Enzyme activity of serum (BChE) and erythrocyte cholinesterase (AChE), and genotoxicity assays (chromosome aberrations, comet assay and micronucleus) were assessed in 59 workers exposed to pesticides (exposed group) and 50 individuals not exposed to pesticides (control group). Main outcome measures: Enzyme activity of serum (BChE) and erythrocyte cholinesterase (AChE), and genotoxicity assays (chromosome aberrations, comet assay and micronucleus). Results: Average age of the exposed and control groups were respectively 39.6 ± 10.8 and 34.0 ± 11.5 years. Referring to BChE activity, significant difference (p<0.001) was found between the exposed group (4733.0 ± 1350.1 U/L) and control group (7075.0 ± 1674.0 U/L). The contrary occurred in the AChE activity between the exposed (4867.0 ± 632.2 U/L) and control group (5051.0 ± 505.5 U/L). Furthermore, there was evident inhibition of both enzymes below the reference value in 9 workers. No significant difference was observed in genotoxic markers, except for buccal epithelium cells micronuclei count, nucleoplasmic bridges, buddings, binucleation and karyorrhexis. In comet assay DNA damage evaluation (p<0.05) mean queue intensity was 8.28 ± 1.85 (range: 6.06-15.75) and 7.30 ± 1.25 (range: 4.04-9.41) for the exposed and control groups, respectively. Conclusions: Use of genotoxicologic markers provided relevant information to predict cnacer...

Utilidad del inmunodiagnóstico en el diagnóstico diferencial de la cisticercosis / Utility of immunodiagnostic in the differential diagnosis of the cysticercosis

Se revisaron 33 expedientes clínicos de pacientes en quienes se solicitó estudio de inmunodiagnóstico, para apoyar el diagnóstico de cisticercosis cerebral, al servicio de parasitología del Instituto Nacional de Pediatría. Se realizó corelación clínica de estos casos con los resultados de laboratorio y gabinete; se concluyó que la historia clínica es aún básica en el estudio de estos pacientes. La tomografía axial computarizada (TAC) confirmó el diagnóstico de cisticercosis cerebral en 100% de los enfermos. Sin embargo, en 21.5% la imagen fué sugestiva de cisticercosis cerebral sin que el estudio posterior lo confirmara. La ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) en LCR fue la prueba más confiable en sujetos con cisticercosis cerebral, con 83.3% de positividad