[Letters to the editor published in Peruvian biomedical journals indexed in SciELO-Peru 2006-2013]. / Cartas al editor publicadas en revistas biomédicas peruanas indizadas en SciELO-Perú 2006-2013.

This bibliometric study describes the characteristics of letters to the editor published between 2006-2013 in biomedical journals indexed in SciELO-Peru.253 letters (10.3% of total publications) were collected. Most letters (139) were in the Peruvian Journal of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, with marked increase throughout those years. 25% of letters submitted included medical student participation. 14% of authors presented with international affiliations and 27% with endogenous affiliation - common in university journals (Anales de la Facultad de Medicina, Revista Médica Herediana).The usual criteria justifying the publication of letters were: opinion of medical fact or public domain (35.6%) and discussion of results, methodological flaws or interpretation (22.9%). In biomedical journals indexed in SciELO Peru the letters to the editor comprise a percentage of publications that has increased in recent years, with low publication of letters of findings or primary data, compared with opinion or criticism.

Cartas al editor publicadas en revistas biomédicas peruanas indizadas en SciELO-Perú 2006-2013 / Letters to the editor published in peruvian biomedical journals indexed in SciELO - Peru 2006-2013

Estudio bibliométrico que describe las características de cartas al editor publicadas en el período 2006-2013 en revistas biomédicas indizadas a SciELO-Perú. Se recopilaron 253 cartas (10,3% del total de publicaciones), el mayor número de cartas (139) fue de la Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Pública, con notorio aumento por años. El 25% de cartas presentaron participación médico-estudiantil. El 14% de cartas presentaron autores con filiación internacional y 27% de cartas con filiación endogénica - frecuente en revistas universitarias (AFM, RMH). Los criterios habituales que justifican la publicación de cartas fueron: opinión sobre hecho médico o de dominio público (35,6%) y discusión de resultados, defectos metodológicos o de interpretación (22,9%). En revistas biomédicas indizadas a SciELO-Perú las cartas al editor constituyen un porcentaje de publicaciones que ha aumentado en los últimos años, con baja la publicación de cartas de hallazgos o datos propios, en comparación con criterios de opinión o crítica.

This bibliometric study describes the characteristics of letters to the editor published between 2006-2013 in biomedical journals indexed in SciELO-Peru.253 letters (10.3% of total publications) were collected. Most letters (139) were in the Peruvian Journal of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, with marked increase throughout those years. 25% of letters submitted included medical student participation. 14% of authors presented with international affiliations and 27% with endogenous affiliation - common in university journals (Anales de la Facultad de Medicina, Revista Médica Herediana).The usual criteria justifying the publication of letters were: opinion of medical fact or public domain (35.6%) and discussion of results, methodological flaws or interpretation (22.9%). In biomedical journals indexed in SciELO Peru the letters to the editor comprise a percentage of publications that has increased in recent years, with low publication of letters of findings or primary data, compared with opinion or criticism.

[Neurotoxic effect of aqueous extract of boldo (Peumus boldus) in an animal model]. / Efecto neurotóxico del extracto acuoso de boldo (Peumus boldus) en un modelo animal.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the neurotoxic effect of the aqueous extract of boldo (Peumus boldus) in an experimental model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 20 male Holtzman rats of 250 ± 15 g were randomized into four groups: the negative control received saline solution (SS) orally (PO), the positive control received 6-hydroxydopamine intracranially (IC) and SS by PO. Experimental group 1 received aqueous extract of boldo (AEB) by PO, and experimental group 2 received 6-hydroxydopamine intracranially and AEB by PO. The experiment lasted 21 days. A neurological assessment was performed which had three components: a) clinical, evaluated with the rotarod test, b) biochemical, by measuring serum levels of uric acid, and c) histopathology, by immunohistochemistry for substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons. The Kruskal Wallis test and the Dunn test were used to assess differences between groups. RESULTS: A significant decrease was found in the latency time of the rotarod test between the negative and positive control group (p<0.01), negative control and experimental 1 (p=0.09), negative control and experimental 2 (p<0.01), positive control and experimental 1 (p=0.04), and experimental 1 and 2 (p=0.09). There was no significant intergroup difference in the identification of uric acid. There was a depletion of the total dopaminergic neurons in the neuronal count, without intergroup difference. CONCLUSIONS: A neurotoxic effect of aqueous extract of boldo was recognized at a clinical level in Holtzman male rats.

Efecto neurotóxico del extracto acuoso de boldo (Peumus boldus) en un modelo animal / Neurotoxic effect of aqueous extract of boldo (Peumus boldus) in an animal model

Objetivos : Evaluar el efecto neurotóxico del extracto acuoso de boldo (Peumus boldus) en un modelo experimental. Materiales y métodos. Se diseñó un experimento, que incluyó 20 ratas macho Holtzman de 250 ± 15 gr, distribuidas aleatoriamente en cuatro grupos: el control negativo recibió solución salina (SS) por vía oral (VO), el control positivo que recibió 6-hidroxidopamina por vía intracraneal (VIC) y SS por VO, el grupo experimental 1 recibió extracto acuoso de boldo (EAB) por VO y el grupo experimental 2 recibió 6-hidroxidopamina por VIC y EAB por VO, en todos los casos durante 21 días. Se realizó una evaluación neurológica, la cual tuvo tres componentes: a) clínico, evaluado con el test de rotarod, b) bioquímico, mediante la determinación de niveles séricos de ácido úrico, y c) histopatológico, por inmunohistoquímica para neuronas dopaminérgicas de sustancia negra. Se empleó la prueba de Kruskal Wallis y el test de Dunn para evaluar las diferencias entre los grupos. Resultados. Se encontró disminución significativa en el tiempo de latencia del test de rotarod entre los grupos control negativo y control positivo (p<0,01), control negativo y experimental 1 (p=0,09), control negativo y experimental 2 (p<0,01), control positivo y experimental 1 (p=0,04), y experimental 1 y 2 (p=0,09). En la determinación de ácido úrico no hubo diferencia significativa intergrupal. En el conteo neuronal hubo depleción de neuronas dopaminérgicas totales, pero sin diferencia intergrupal. Conclusiones. Se evidencio un efecto neurotóxico del extracto acuoso de boldo en ratas macho de la cepa Holtzman a nivel clínico.

Objectives. To assess the neurotoxic effect of the aqueous extract of boldo (Peumus boldus) in an experimental model. Materials and methods. 20 male Holtzman rats of 250 ± 15 g were randomized into four groups: the negative control received saline solution (SS) orally (PO), the positive control received 6-hydroxydopamine intracranially (IC) and SS by PO. Experimental group 1 received aqueous extract of boldo (AEB) by PO, and experimental group 2 received 6-hydroxydopamine intracranially and AEB by PO. The experiment lasted 21 days. A neurological assessment was performed which had three components: a) clinical, evaluated with the rotarod test, b) biochemical, by measuring serum levels of uric acid, and c) histopathology, by immunohistochemistry for substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons. The Kruskal Wallis test and the Dunn test were used to assess differences between groups. Results. A significant decrease was found in the latency time of the rotarod test between the negative and positive control group (p<0.01), negative control and experimental 1 (p=0.09), negative control and experimental 2 (p<0.01), positive control and experimental 1 (p=0.04), and experimental 1 and 2 (p=0.09). There was no significant intergroup difference in the identification of uric acid. There was a depletion of the total dopaminergic neurons in the neuronal count, without intergroup difference. Conclusions. A neurotoxic effect of aqueous extract of boldo was recognized at a clinical level in Holtzman male rats.