Positive Psychological Functioning, Emotional Regulation and Coping Strategies as Predictors of Adaptation to Illness in Uruguayan Adolescents in Treatment for Cancer / Funcionamiento Psicológico Positivo, Regulación Emocional y Estrategias de Afrontamiento como Predictores de Adaptación a la Enfermedad en Adolescentes Uruguayos en Tratamiento por Cáncer

This study aimed to analyze whether there is a relationship between the variables: Positive Psychological Functioning (PPF), Emotional Regulation (ER) and Coping Strategies (CS) in relation to Adaptation to Illness (AI), and which of these variables is the best predictor of adaptation in adolescents undergoing cancer treatment. The clinical sample was of 33 adolescents aged 12-17 years (M =15.15, ST=1.67). The results indicated that emotional suppression was used more by females, while the coping strategies of religion and behavioral disengagement were used more by males. Participants from the interior of the country showed higher values in PPF than those from the city, and religious belief was more highly related with AI and ER. A linear regression study showed that, although the three independent variables predict the dependent variable, the best predictor is PPF, followed by ER and CS. The t value of the stepwise linear regression model indicated a significance of .02. These results may be useful when planning treatment in adolescents with cancer, with an approach based on psychological resources. (AU)

Este estudio se propuso analizar si existe relación entre las variables: funcionamiento Psicológico Positivo (FPP), Regulación Emocional (RE) y Estrategias de Afrontamiento (EA) con relación a la Adaptación a la Enfermedad (AD); y cuál de estas variables es el mejor predictor de la adaptación en adolescentes en tratamiento por cáncer. Se analizó una muestra clínica de 33 adolescentes con edades comprendidas entre 12 - 17 años (M = 15). Los resultados indicaron que la supresión emocional fue más utilizada por las mujeres, mientras que las estrategias de afrontamiento de religión y desvinculación comportamental fueron más usadas por varones. Los participantes del interior del país mostraron valores más altos en el FPP con relación a los de ciudad, y la creencia religiosa, presentó alta relación con la AD y la RE. Por medio de estudio de regresión lineal, se pudo observar que, si bien las tres variables independientes predicen la variable dependiente, el mejor predictor es el FPP, seguido de la RE y las EA. El valor de t indicó un buen índice de relevancia del F. Estos resultados pueden ser de utilidad para ser considerados en la planificación de tratamientos en adolescentes con cáncer, con un abordaje basado en recursos psicológicos. (AU)

Cartografía y epistemologías feministas: una investigación con/en familias y parentalidades / Cartografia e epistemologias feministas: uma pesquisa com/sobre famílias e parentalidades / Cartography and feminist epistemologies: a research with/about families and parenting

RESUMEN. En este manuscrito se presentan aportes y reflexiones acerca de cómo la cartografía y las epistemologías feministas, en articulación, son potentes y resultan pertinentes para la investigación con familias y parentalidades. Se puntualizan algunas decisiones y abordajes metodológicos realizados en la tesis doctoral Ficciones de familias, adolescentes entre cuidados y tránsitos, realizada durante los años 2015 a 2019, en Uruguay. En primer lugar se deja planteado el entramado teórico y epistemológico que da soporte al posicionamiento ético y político de las investigadoras y a las prácticas de investigación-intervención realizadas. A continuación, se marcan algunos puntos donde las conexiones epistémico-teóricas entre cartografía y epistemologías feministas fueron emergiendo en la práctica de investigación. A saber, en la reconstrucción del problema-objeto de investigación, en la elección del punto de vista de los participantes y en el proceso de análisis donde el énfasis se ubica en la experiencia de encuentro con los adolescentes y la emergencia de analizadores que desestabilizan y catalizan los procesos de investigación en familias y parentalidades.

RESUMO. Neste texto discutimos acerca de como a cartografia e as epistemologias feministas, articuladas, são potentes e apropriadas para pesquisas com famílias e parentalidades. Pontuamos algumas decisões e abordagens metodológicas realizadas na tese de doutorado Ficciones de familias, adolescentes entre cuidados y tránsitos, realizada durante os anos 2015 a 2019, no Uruguai. Em primeiro lugar, apresenta-se a trama teórica e epistemológica que dá suporte ao posicionamento ético e político das investigadoras e as práticas de pesquisa-intervenção realizadas. Na sequência, marcamos alguns pontos de conexão epistemológicos e teóricos entre a cartografia e as epistemologias feministas que foram emergindo durante a pesquisa. Quais sejam, a reconstrução do problema de pesquisa, a eleição do ponto de vista dos e das participantes e o processo de análise, cuja ênfase está na experiência de encontro com os e as adolescentes e a emergência de analisadores que desestabilizam e catalisam os processos de pesquisa sobre famílias e parentalidades.

ABSTRACT. In this manuscript, contributions and reflections are presented about how articulations of cartography and feminist epistemologies are powerful and relevant for research with families and parenting. Some decisions and methodological approaches made in the doctoral thesis Family fictions, adolescents between care and transits, carried out during the years 2015 to 2019 in Uruguay, are specified. First, the theoretical and epistemological framework that supports the ethical and political positioning of the researchers and the research-intervention practices carried out is raised. Next, some points are shown where the epistemic-theoretical connections between cartography and feminist epistemologies were emerging in research practice. Namely, in the reconstruction of the problem-object of research, in the choice of the participants' point of view and in the analysis process that focuses on the experience of encountering adolescents and the emergence of analyzers that destabilize and catalyze the research processes in families and parenting.

Genetic Admixture Analysis in the Population of Tacuarembó-Uruguay Using Alu Insertions.

Tacuarembó is a department located in northeastern Uruguay, whose population is the result of several migration waves from Europe and Near East, as well as Africans and Afro-descents mostly from Brazil; these waves settled with the territory's various Native ethnic groups (Charrúa, Minuán, and Guaraní). In the past, this population has been the focus of genetic studies showing this trihybrid origin, with greater contributions of Natives and Africans than in other Uruguayan regions. In this study we analyzed eight Alu insertions (A25, ACE, APOA1, B65, D1, F13B, PV92, TPA25) to provide valuable information for ancestrality and genetic differentiation and to compare with both previous studies on the Tacuarembó population and Alu frequencies in other Uruguayan populations. The European contribution to Alu and classical markers was almost equal to that of a previous study using 22 classical markers (63% vs. 65%), while African contribution was higher (30% vs. 15%), and Native American contribution shows an important difference in Alu: 7% versus 20%. We found no significant differences in genetic differentiation between Tacuarembó and Montevideo but significant differences between Tacuarembó and Basque descendants from Trinidad. Our results support previous findings obtained with classical markers that demonstrate the trihybrid composition of the Tacuarembó population, correlated with historical records. Thus, Alu insertions provide interesting information in light of the admixture process in the Uruguayan population.

Valorización económica de los cuidados no remunerados en salud: un aporte al reconocimiento del trabajo invisible de los hogares y las mujeres / Determining the Worth of Unpaid Health Care: A Contribution to Recognize the Invisible Work by Women and Homes / Valoração econômica dos cuidados não remunerados em saúde: uma contribuição para o reconhecimento do trabalho invisível das famílias e as mulheres

Resumen El presente artículo tiene como objetivos la valorización del cuidado no remunerado en salud en Uruguay y la caracterización de los/as cuidadores/as (remunerado o no) de personas enfermas. Dichos objetivos son llevados a cabo, principalmente, mediante el análisis cuantitativo de los datos de la primera Encuesta Nacional de Cuidados No Remunerados en Salud (2013) en Uruguay. La encuesta permite conocer y valorizar (método de costo de reemplazo) el tiempo de cuidados no remunerados en salud, así como la caracterización de las/os cuidadoras/es no remunerados en salud. El artículo muestra que el trabajo de cuidados no remunerados en salud realizado por los hogares equivale a un tercio del agregado del sector salud del Producto Interno Bruto y que las mujeres son las principales cuidadoras. En consecuencia, asumen los costos de pérdida de autonomía y limitaciones en el goce de derechos que la realización de este trabajo implica.

Abstract This paper is intended to determine the worth of unpaid health care in Uruguay and to characterize the caregivers (either paid or unpaid) who serve ill people. These objectives are accomplished mainly through the quantitative analysis of the data gathered by the first National Survey of Unpaid Health Care (2013) in Uruguay. This survey enables to become aware and set the worth of the unpaid health care times (replacement cost method) and to characterize the unpaid caregivers. This paper shows how the unpaid health care provided by homes accounts for a third of whole health care aggregate in the Gross Domestic Product. Women are the main caregivers, thus assuming the costs of losing their autonomy and seeing reduced the opportunities to enjoy their rights.

Resumo O presente artigo tem como objetivo a valorização do cuidado não remunerado em saúde em Uruguai e a caracterização dos cuidadores e das cuidadoras (remunerados ou não) de pessoas doentes. Tais objetivos são levados a cabo, principalmente, mediante análise quantitativa dos dados do primeiro Inquérito Nacional de Cuidados Não Remunerados em Saúde (2013) em Uruguai. O inquérito permitiu conhecer e valorizar (método de custo de reposição) o tempo de cuidados não remunerados em saúde, bem como a caracterização das/dos cuidadoras/es não remunerados em saúde. O artigo demonstra que o trabalho de cuidados não remunerados em saúde realizado pelas famílias equivale a um terço do agregado do setor saúde no Produto Interno Bruto e que as mulheres são as principais cuidadoras. Em consequência, assumem os custos de perda de autonomia e limitações no desfrute de direitos que a realização desse trabalho implica.

Does the Attitude Toward Organ Donation Change as a Function of the Country Where People Emigrate? Study Between Uruguayan Emigrants to the United States and Spain.

INTRODUCTION: The Uruguayan population is sensitized toward transplantation. However, it has not been studied how this awareness can change when emigrating to different countries. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the attitude toward cadaveric organ donation and living organ donation between the Uruguayan population residing in Florida (United States) and the Uruguayan population residing in Spain. METHOD: Adults born in Uruguay and residing in Florida and Spain were screened. The questionnaire "PCID-DTO Ríos" (donation of cadaveric organs) and "PCID-DVR Ríos" (living renal donation) were used. Subjects were randomly selected according to age and gender stratification. Support from Latin-American immigration associations in Spain and Florida was needed. The survey was anonymized and self-administered. Verbal consent was obtained to collaborate in the study. RESULTS: Because the emigrant population to Spain is far larger than the emigrant population to the United States, a 2:1 proportional sampling was performed (n = 132). Sixty-seven percent of residents in Spain were in favor of organ donation at the time of death compared with 50% among residents in Florida (P = .082), and 100% of residents in Spain were in favor of living renal donation compared with 50% of those living in Florida (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The attitude toward donation is more favorable among Uruguayan emigrants to Spain than emigrants to the United States, especially in related kidney donation.

Sensing the Airs: The Cultural Context for Breathing and Breathlessness in Uruguay.

The sensory experience of breathing, particularly the sensation of breathlessness in the case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a rich though understudied topic in medical anthropology. Fieldwork in Uruguay made it clear to me that to study the sensorial experience of breathlessness, I would also have to study the widely shared cultural conceptualizations and practices surrounding air, breath, and health. In this article, I illustrate ethnographically how the experience of breathing and breathlessness is closely tied to perceptions of air outside the body - in particular humidity, temperature change, wind, and contamination. In conceptualizing breath as the mechanism and air the medium for environmental embodiment, I bring together sensorial medical anthropology, anthropology of the body, and the anthropology of wind and climate. My findings, in light of similar findings across contexts, suggest that a body transformed by COPD is hyperperceptive and hypersensitive to changes in air.

Competencias y entorno clinico de aprendizaje en enfermería: autopercepcion de estudiantes avanzados de Uruguay / Competencies and clinical learning environment in nursing: self perception of advanced students in Uruguay

Objetivo: El objetivo del presente trabajo fue describir la percepción del nivel de competencias en relación con el entorno de aprendizaje práctico, por estudiantes de enfermería de Uruguay. Material y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal interviniendo 33 estudiantes del último ciclo de Facultad de Enfermería de Universidad de la República y Universidad Católica del Uruguay. Los datos se recolectaron en el año 2013 utilizando dos instrumentos previamente validados, el Nurse Competence Scale y el Practice Environment Scale-Nursing Work Index. Resultados: El nivel global de competencias percibido por los estudiantes es Muy Bueno (76.97; VAS: 0-100). La dimensión autoevaluada como más alta fue Rol de Trabajo. La frecuencia de utilización de competencias se ubicó en su mayoría (84.8%) entre utilizadas "muy a menudo" y "ocasionalmente". El entorno se evaluó mayormente como no favorable (54.5% en desacuerdo). No se pudo establecer relación entre competencias y entorno para la muestra estudiada. Conclusiones: Los estudiantes avanzados tienen un muy buen nivel de competencias. La autoevaluación, a través de instrumentos como el NCS, es una herramienta fundamental para la evaluación de las competencias alcanzadas. Es imprescindible continuar investigando acerca del entorno y otros factores que puedan influir en las competencias (AU)

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the competence level, according to the clinical learning environment, in nursing students from Uruguay. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was made, including 33 pregraduating students from Facultad de Enfermería de la Universidad de la República and Universidad Católica del Uruguay. The data were collected during 2013 using two self-administered instruments, the Nurse Competence Scale (NCS) and the Practice Environment Scale-Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI). Results: The overall competence was on very good level (76.97; VAS: 0-100). The competence was highest in work role and all of the competences were mostly used (84.8%) "very often" and "ocassionally". The environment was mainly perceived as unsupportive (54.5% disagree). We could not find a significant relationship between competences and environment for this sample. Conclusion: Pre-graduating students have a very good level of competence. The self-assessment, using instruments as the NCS, is a very important tool to evaluate the competence achievements. It is necessary to keep on searching about the environment and other factors that could be related to competences (AU)

First series of patients with XDR and pre-XDR TB treated with regimens that included meropenen-clavulanate in Argentina.

XDR (extensively drug-resistant) and pre-XDR tuberculosis (TB) seriously compromise prognosis and treatment possibilities, and inevitably require the use of group V drugs (World Health Organization). The progress of all patients with XDR and pre-XDR TB seen in a specialized unit during 2012 and 2013 and treated with regimens that included at least 6 months of meropenem-clavulanate (MPC), capreomycin, moxifloxacin, linezolid, clofazimine, high-dose isoniazid, PAS, and bedaquiline in 1 case, were retrospectively analysed. Ten patients were treated, 9 with an extensive pattern of resistance to at least 6 drugs, and 1 because of adverse reactions and drug interactions leading to a similar situation. Eight of the 10 patients treated achieved bacteriological sputum conversion (2 consecutive negative monthly cultures) over a period of 2-7 months, while 2 died. No adverse reactions attributable to prolonged administration of MPC were observed.

Contribución de la antropología dental en la determinación de la identidad uruguaya / Contribution of dental anthropology in determining the Uruguayan identity

Los dientes constituyen un excelente material para investigaciones de carácter antropológico, genético, odontológico y forense, gracias asu fácil accesibilidad y estructura casi indestructible. El análisis de sus rasgos morfológicos ha resultado de suma utilidad en la determinacióndel grado de variación de los grupos poblacionales y en el propio proceso de identificación humana. Objetivos: este estudio buscó verificar la presencia de algunas características anatómicas dentales en uruguayos, en la procura de correlacionarlas con la ascendenciade los mismos. Metodología: consistió en una evaluación cualitativa de nueve caracteres morfológicos dentales, llevada a cabo sobre los respectivos juegos de modelos de yeso de 544 individuos, 273 del sexo femenino y 271 del masculino, con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 60 años, asistidos en una clínica de ortodoncia de la ciudad de Montevideo. Resultados: se constató la predominancia de segundosmolares inferiores con cuatro cúspides, seguidos en orden decreciente, por segundos molares superiores con tres cúspides, incisivos en forma de pala y molares superiores con tubérculo de Carabelli. Conclusiones: la muestra observada presentó nítida influencia delcomplejo dental caucasoide y cierta similitud con el mongoloide.

Teeth constitute an excellent material for anthropological, genetic, odontologic and forensic investigations by virtue of their easy accessibilityand almost unbreakable structure. The analysis of morphological traits has proven very useful in determining the degree of human variation and in the proper identification process. Objectives: the aim of this paper was to verify the presence of some dentalanatomical features in Uruguayans, in attempts to correlate them with their ancestry. Methods: the research consisted in a qualitative assessment of nine dental morphological characters, performed on the respective sets of plaster models of 544 individuals, 273 females and 271 males, aged between 18 and 60 years, assisted in one orthodontic clinic of Montevideo. Results: it was found predominanceof mandibular second molars with four cusps, followed in decreasing order by upper second molars with three cusps, shovel-shaped incisors and upper molars with Carabelli’s trait. Conclusions: the sample showed clear influence of Caucasoid dental complex and somesimilarity to Mongoloid dental complex.

A perfect storm? Welfare, care, gender and generations in Uruguay.

This article claims that welfare states modelled on a contributory basis and with a system of entitlements that assumes stable two-parent families, a traditional breadwinner model, full formal employment and a relatively young age structure are profoundly flawed in the context of present-day challenges. While this is true for affluent countries modelled on the Bismarckian type of welfare system, the costs of the status quo are even more devastating in middle-income economies with high levels of inequality. A gendered approach to welfare reform that introduces the political economy and the economy of care and unpaid work is becoming critical to confront what may very well become a perfect storm for the welfare of these nations and their peoples. Through an in-depth study of the Uruguayan case, the authors show how the decoupling of risk and protection has torn asunder the efficacy of welfare devices in the country. An ageing society that has seen a radical transformation of its family and labour market landscapes, Uruguay maintained during the 1980s and 1990s a welfare state that was essentially contributory, elderly and male-oriented, and centred on cash entitlements. This contributed to the infantilization of poverty, increased the vulnerability of women and exacerbated fiscal stress for the system as a whole. Furthermore, because of high levels of income and asset inequality, the redistribution of risk between upper- and lower-income groups presented a deeply regressive pattern. The political economy of care and welfare has begun to change in the last decade or so, bringing about mild reforms in the right direction; but these might prove to be too little and too late.

Putting two and two together? Early childhood education, mothers' employment and care service expansion in Chile and Mexico.

In recent years, several middle-income countries, including Chile, Mexico and Uruguay, have increased the availability of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. These developments have received little scholarly attention so far, resulting in the (surely unintended) impression that Latin American social policy is tied to a familialist track, when in reality national and regional trends are more varied and complex. This article looks at recent efforts to expand ECEC services in Chile and Mexico. In spite of similar concerns over low female labour force participation and child welfare, the approaches of the two countries to service expansion have differed significantly. While the Mexican programme aims to kick-start and subsidize home- and community-based care provision, with a training component for childminders, the Chilean programme emphasizes the expansion of professional ECEC services provided in public institutions. By comparing the two programmes, this article shows that differences in policy design have important implications in terms of the opportunities the programmes are able to create for women and children from low-income families, and in terms of the programmes' impacts on gender and class inequalities. It also ventures some hypotheses about why the two countries may have chosen such different routes.

Beta-globin gene cluster haplotypes in Afro-Uruguayans from two geographical regions (South and North).

The beta-globin gene cluster haplotypes were identified in 52 and 40 chromosomes from two Afro-Uruguayan populations located in the South and North of the country, respectively. In both regions, the 5' haplotype 2 (+ - - - -), characteristic of non-African populations, was the most frequent, reflecting a strong process of admixture in Afro-Uruguayans (0.355 and 0.262, respectively). The haplotypes 3 (- - - - +) and 4 (- + - - +), characteristics of African sub-Saharan populations, present inverse frequencies in North and South: whereas in the South haplotype 3 is the second most frequent (0.232), and haplotype 4 presents a low frequency (0.019), in the North haplotype 4 is the third most frequent (0.140), and haplotype 3 only reaches an intermediate frequency (0.088). The pairwise F(ST) and the exact test of differentiation show genetic heterogeneity between both regions. Nei's genetic distance show that South and North present affinities with Bantu groups, although the North present the smallest genetic distance with the Mandenka, a Senegalese population. With respect to 3' haplotypes, haplotype I was the most frequent in both populations, followed by haplotype II, characteristic of sub-Saharan Africans. The high frequencies of haplotype III-Asian could indicate admixture with Native American populations. The differences observed between both Uruguayan regions could be explained by microevolutionary events as genetic drift, founder effects, differential admixture, and/or distinct origin of the African slaves introduced in those regions.

Anatomía cardíaca de Pontoporia blainvillei / Cardiac anatomy of the Pontoporia blainvillei

El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la conformación interna y externa y la irrigación del corazón del delfín franciscana de la Plata (Pontoporia blainvillei) para lo cual fueron disecados 12 corazones. El pericardio se fijaba caudalmente al diafragma, ventralmente al músculo transverso torácico y, lateralmente, a las costillas y músculos intercostales. El corazón era aplastado dorsoventralmente, su base era craneal, su ápex era compartido por ambos ventrículos. El ventrículo izquierdo era de pared gruesa, mientras que la del ventrículo derecho más delgada y depresible. La cara ventral correspondía a la cara auricular y la cara dorsal a la cara atrial de la Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria, 2005 (NAV). En la conformación interior del atrio derecho destacaba el gran desarrollo de la cresta terminal y de la fosa oval. Dentro del ventrículo derecho, los músculos papilares se distribuían en subbarterioso, magnus y parvi. Una trabécula septomarginal se extendía entre los músculos papilares subarterioso y magnus. También fueron observadas trabéculas menores del mismo tipo, situadas más ventralmente a la anterior. Las venas pulmonares se unían en un tronco común antes de llegar al atrio izquierdo. El ventrículo izquierdo tenía dos músculos papilares bien desarrollados. La irrigación cardíaca arterial mostraba un predominio de la arteria coronaria izquierda y se notaba la presencia de anastomosis intercoronarias.

The aim of this study is to describe the external and internal conformation and the arterial irrigation of La Plata Dolphin's heart (Pontoporia blainvillei). Twelve animals obtained from nets of fishing ships were used and their hearts were studied by means of simple dissection. The pericardium was fixed caudally to the diaphragm, ventrally to the thoracic transverse muscle and laterally to the ribs and intercostal muscles. The heart weighted about 115 grams, was flattened dorsoventrally, its base was cranial, its apex was shared by both ventricles. The ventral face corresponds to the auricular face of the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria (NAV), and the dorsal face corresponds to the atrial face. In the internal conformation of the right atrium the great development of the crista terminalis and the fossa ovalis stood out. Inside the right ventricle the papillaris muscles were observed distributed in subarteriosus, magnus and parvi. The dextra septomarginal trabecules were multiple and situated between the papillaris muscles. In the left ventricle they had two well developed papillaris muscles. The left coronary artery is the most important vessel in the arterial irrigation of the cardiac territory.

Population structure and admixture in Cerro Largo, Uruguay, based on blood markers and mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms.

Recent studies of the Uruguayan population revealed different amounts of Amerindian and African genetic contributions. Our previous analysis of Afro-Uruguayans from the capital city of the Department of Cerro Largo showed a high proportion of African genes, and the effects of directional mating involving Amerindian women. In this paper, we extended the analysis to a sample of more than 100 individuals representing a random sample of the population of the whole Department. Based on 18 autosomal markers and one X-linked marker, we estimated 82% European, 8% Amerindian, and 10% African contributions to their ancestry, while from seven mitochondrial DNA site-specific polymorphic markers and sequences of hypervariable segment I, we determined 49% European, 30% Amerindian, and 21% African maternal contributions. Directional matings between Amerindian women and European men were detected, but differences involving Africans were not significant. Data about the specific origins of maternal lineages were also provided, and placed in a historical context.

Directional mating and a rapid male population expansion in a hybrid Uruguayan population.

The Uruguayan population has been considered as mainly European descent, with a negligible Native American or African contributions. Based on serological and molecular markers, recent studies demonstrate that these two populations had an important influence in the conformation of the present one. To the Northeastern region of Uruguay, a 20% Native American contribution was estimated using autosomal markers and a 62% Native American female origin based on mitochondrial markers. In this paper, we analyze four Y chromosome markers, two biallelic loci (M3 and YAP) and two microsatellites (DYS389I and DYS391), to characterize the male genetic contribution of a sample from the Northeastern city of Tacuarembó. We take different approaches to estimate the origin of male contributions to the population of Tacuarembó; Native American contribution ranges between 1.60% and 8.31%, confirming strong directional mating, which was also detected before with mitochondrial markers. Furthermore, the male population of Tacuarembó presents the characteristic of a population that suffered a bottleneck and a posterior expansion, confirmed using two microsatellite-based statistics to analyze the past population growth; patrilocality and migration could be responsible of those characteristics.

Evidence for cultivar adoption and emerging complexity during the mid-Holocene in the La Plata basin.

Multidisciplinary investigations at the Los Ajos archaeological mound complex in the wetlands of southeastern Uruguay challenge the traditional view that the La Plata basin was inhabited by simple groups of hunters and gatherers for much of the pre-Hispanic era. Here we report new archaeological, palaeoecological and botanical data indicating that during an increasingly drier mid-Holocene, at around 4,190 radiocarbon (14C) years before present (bp), Los Ajos became a permanent circular plaza village, and its inhabitants adopted the earliest cultivars known in southern South America. The architectural plan of Los Ajos during the following Ceramic Mound Period (around 3,000-500 14C yr bp) is similar to, but earlier than, settlement patterns demonstrated in Amazonia, revealing a new and independent architectural tradition for South America.

A low prevalence of cystic fibrosis in Uruguayans of mainly European descent.

Cystic fibrosis is the most common hereditary disease in populations of European descent, with its prevalence depending on the populations and ethnic groups studied. In contrast to Europe and North America, there is little information about this disease in Latin America. Uruguay currently has a human population of 3,000,000, with a low rate of miscegenation and no remaining isolated Amerindian groups. In the present study, we estimated the prevalence of cystic fibrosis in this country based on the detection of DeltaF508 mutation carriers in 500 unrelated individuals and on the frequency of individuals homozygous for this mutation within the affected population. The latter was calculated from the frequency of the different mutations and genotypes observed in a sample of 52 previously described patients with confirmed cystic fibrosis. A theoretical estimate of the prevalence of cystic fibrosis based on anthropological data suggested a frequency of 25 affected individuals/100,000 inhabitants. However, our data indicated that the true prevalence in the population was considerably lower (6.9 cases/100,000 inhabitants).