[Assessment of an interventional study on iodine deficiency in Burkina Faso, 1990-1993. Direction de la Santé de la Famille (Burkina Faso)]. / Valoración de un estudio de intervención sobre el déficit de yodo en Burkina Faso, 1990-1993. Direction de la Santé de la Famille (Burkina Faso).

OBJECTIVES: To find how the urinary parameters of iodine excretion evolved in a community with deficiencies, after administering iodine orally and IM in two provinces in Burkina Faso; to recommend a national strategy to tackle iodine deficits. Design. A longitudinal survey before and after the iodine was given (12 months). Descriptive analysis of the data. SETTING: Provinces of Namentenga and Passoré in Burkina Faso. PARTICIPANTS: The general population of the two provinces who satisfied age-sex criteria: males from 0 to 25, females from 0-45. Randomised two-stage sampling. 423 people in all took part (210 in Namentenga and 213 in Passoré). INTERVENTIONS: The administration of 1 ml of iodised oil (Lipiodol) orally in Namentenga and IM in Passoré. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The urinary parameters of micrograms of iodine per gr. of Creatinine, and micrograms of iodine per dl of urine, were used. Figures for normalisation of the urinary parameters 12 months after iodisation was significantly higher in Passoré province, where iodine was administered IM. CONCLUSIONS: The intramuscular pathway has more longlasting effects, but the characteristics of Burkina Faso's health system and the feasibility of a medium or long-term intervention make it advisable that iodine supplements be administered orally.

[Epidemiology of traveler's diarrhea in Spanish tourists travelling in developing countries]. / Epidemiología de la diarrea del viajero en turistas españoles a países en desarrollo.

BACKGROUND: Travellers' diarrhea (TD) is the most frequent problem in travellers going to the developing countries. This paper analyses the prevalence of the syndrome by geographical areas as well as the risk factors in 2209 Spanish travellers to 3 continents. METHODS: Epidemiological data were gathered through a personnel interview filled by the travellers during their return trip. Those were introduce in a DbaseIII plus computer program and were evaluated through the Epi Info program. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of TD found was 41%. The Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and Moghreb countries showed a higher prevalence of TD. Trekkers and people on boat cruises (Nile and Amazon) had the highest prevalence of TD. The consumption of non-carbonic drinks and ice creams was significantly associated to TD. Travellers with previous gastrointestinal illnesses suffered more TD than others. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that Spain in considered an area of intermediate risk for TD we found no significant differences in the prevalence of TD in Spanish travellers when compared with other published series from developed countries.

[8 cases of ectopic localization of schistosomiasis in Spanish travelers]. / Ocho casos de localización ectópica de la esquistosomiasis en viajeros españoles.

In this article 8 patients with ectopic features due to skin or prostatic deposition of ova of different schistosomal species are reported. The clinical, pathological and radiological features of these lesions are described. It is to be remarked that 7 patients had traveled to Mali and had bathed in the Bandiagara District, which is included in several tourist routes such as "Travel to Dogon country".

[Difficulties in the prevention of malaria in Spain: apropos of 3 cases]. / Dificultades en la profilaxis del paludismo en España: a propósito de tres casos.

We report three cases of malaria by Plasmodium falciparum in travelers to West Africa, who had correctly followed, without interruption until the time of diagnosis, the prophylactic regimen that had been prescribed to them (chloroquine base 5 mg/week and pyrimethamine 50 mg/week). We point to the need to have, in Spain, a pharmacopeia which adequately covers the needs of travelers to tropical countries according to experience and international regulations, and also to have adequate health information available to international travelers.

Trigeminal representations of the masticatory and extraocular proprioceptors as revealed by horseradish peroxidase retrograde transport.

Horseradish peroxidase has been injected in the masticatory and extraocular muscles in newborn and adult cats to identify the cells of origin for the muscle endings. Labeled motoneurons in the nuclei of the III, IV, V and VI nerves have been observed. They are the parent cells of the motor terminals taking up the enzyme in the muscle injected. Labeled ganglionic cells have been found scattered all along the ipsilateral mesencephalic nucleus of the V nerve after injection of both the jaw closing and the jaw opening muscles. Labeled cells have also been found in the ipsilateral caudal part of the same nucleus after injection of the extraocular muscles. These results are interpreted as due to enzyme uptake by the sensory endings of the muscle studied. Moreover cell bodies in the semilunar ganglion were found marked for both groups of muscles injected showing a second ganglionic representation for the sensory endings.