A matter of size: the population structure of the smallest known living shark, Etmopterus perryi (Springer & Burgess, 1985), from deep waters off the Colombian Caribbean coast.

The dwarf lanternshark (Etmopterus perryi) is the smallest known described shark, and practically no information has been available on this species since first described in the mid-1980s. Therefore, the aim of this work is to describe, for the first time, the population structure regarding dwarf lanternshark in the Colombian Caribbean Sea. During deep-water research surveys conducted along the Colombian Caribbean coast, 87 stations were sampled using the swept area method. A total of 153 dwarf lanternshark individuals were caught in depths ranging from 230 to 530 m. This information was used to describe the size structures, morphological measurements including length-at-weight relationship, length at maturity in females and the spatial distribution of mean length and biomass of the species. The lengths of individuals ranged from 78.02 to 289.00 mm total length (TL), which is a new record of maximum length for this species. The spatial distribution of mean lengths and biomass distributions show high abundances and high relative mean lengths in the northeast area off Santa Marta and the area northwest of Riohacha. The mean biomass density in the whole prospected area was 5.52 kg km-2 . Length at 50% maturity in females was estimated in 203 mm TL (95% C.I.: 190-214 mm). Deep-water elasmobranch species, such as the dwarf lantern shark, are expected to show extremely low resilience to fishing exploitation, even when they are not targeted by commercial fishing. Therefore, the information reported in this study can serve as a baseline upon which management measurements can be proposed for the conservation of this shark species.

Escala numérica para evaluar síntomas espirituales en cuidados paliativos / A scale to assess spiritual symptoms in palliative care

Background: Spiritual issues are an important dimension of health care, but seldom addressed by professionals. Thus, a scale that assesses the presence and intensity of seven spiritual symptoms was developed. Aim: To validate the instrument in palliative care settings. Material and Methods: The spiritual symptoms scale was applied to 103 patients, aged 59 ± 17 years (58% women), admitted to hospice care in two centers located in Santiago. The reproducibility of the scale was evaluated in 33 patients and its internal consistency and liability in 70. Results: The Fleiss Kappa to assess reproducibility was 0.82 and the analysis of variance had a p of 0.94. Cronbach alpha to assess internal consistency was 0.74. Conclusions: The scale renders similar results when applied by different evaluators and has a good liability. Therefore, it can be a reliable instrument to assess spiritual symptoms in palliative care settings. Further studies would be needed to verify its utility in other settings.

When grief turns into love: understanding the experience of parents who have revived after losing a child due to cancer.

A child's death caused by cancer generates a deep impact on his/her parents, who can be affected by serious health problems due to an impairment of their lifestyle. Notwithstanding their suffering, some parents manage to overcome it and discover a new meaning for their lives. The goal of this phenomenological study is to understand the lived experiences that help parents to revive after the death of their child due to cancer. The participants were fathers and mothers who believe that they have elaborated their mourning. Their lived experiences were collected in interviews they had previously agreed to give. The question that steered the interview was: "What is the experience you went through that helped you to revive after your child died due to cancer?" Data were analyzed using Streubert's method. Analyzing the interviews of the participants, 3 interweaved essences were detected: transition from surviving to reviving themselves; ascribing a sense and meaning to the life, agony, and death of a child; and helping other parents through one's own experience.

Differential transcriptional response of Bifidobacterium longum to human milk, formula milk, and galactooligosaccharide.

In order to gain insight into the effects of human breast milk on the development of the intestinal bifidobacteria and associated health effects, the transcriptome of Bifidobacterium longum LMG 13197 grown in breast milk and formula milk containing galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and long-chain fructooligosaccharides was compared to that obtained in a semisynthetic medium with glucose. Total RNA was isolated from exponentially growing cells and hybridized to a clone library-based microarray. Inserts of clones with significant hybridization signals were sequenced and identified. The B. longum transcriptomes obtained during growth on human and formula milk were more similar to each other than to that obtained from growth in semisynthetic medium with glucose. Remarkably, there were only a few genes implicated in carbohydrate metabolism that were similarly upregulated during growth in both human and formula milk although oligosaccharides were added to the formula. Common highly upregulated genes notably included putative genes for cell surface type 2 glycoprotein-binding fimbriae that are implicated in attachment and colonization in the intestine. Genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism formed the dominant group specifically upregulated in breast milk and included putative genes for N-acetylglucosamine degradation and for metabolism of mucin and human milk oligosaccharides via the galactose/lacto-N-biose gene cluster. This supports the notion that the bifidogenic effect of human milk is to a great extent based on its oligosaccharides. The transcriptional effect of semisynthetic medium containing GOS, which, like human milk, contains a large amount of lactose and galactose, on the B. longum transcriptome was also studied and revealed substantial similarity with carbohydrate-utilization genes upregulated during growth in human milk. This knowledge provides leads to optimizing formula milk to better simulate the observed bifidogenic effects of human breast milk.

Responsabilidad de enfermería en la educación a cuidadores informales de niños con problemas: oncológicos en etapas tempranas posdiagnóstico / Nurse responsability in the education of informal caregivers of children with oncologic diseases

En general, el cuidado del niño enfermo es asumido por sus padres y su participación se hace más urgente cuando el niño padece de una enfermedad de larga evolución como lo es el cáncer. Los estudios recientes consideran a los padres como cuidadores informales quienes requieren de apoyo educativo para asumir prácticas de autocuidados que les ayude a enfrentar los problemas que genera la enfermedad.

Motivaciones de no fumadores para continuar con esta conducta saludable / Motivations of non-smokers for continuing not to smoke

Con el objetivo de conocer las motivaciones que apoyan el deseo de algunas personas por mantenerse sin fumar, se diseñó un estudio descriptivo transversal en una muestra de 692 adultos no fumadores pertenecientes a la Universidad de Concepción. Esta investigación permitió identificar las motivaciones intrínsecas y extrínsecas manifestadas por ellos como razones para conservar esta conducta saludable. En la recolección de los datos se utilizó la escala "Reasons for Quitting Scale" de 20 ítemes, modificada por los autores para no fumadores, y cuya confiabilidad se comprobó a través del coeficiente Alpha de Cronbach. El resultado del análisis factorial con rotación ortogonal de los 20 ítemes de la escala sugirió una solución óptima con 4 factores, considerando los ítemes que tuvieron una carga superior a 0,47. Estos cuatro factores explicaron las motivaciones por no fumar hasta un 63,11 porciento en los funcionarios y hasta un 62,57 porciento en los estudiantes. Los factores de mayor carga en las respuestas de los funcionarios fueron los ítemes relacionados con las categorías de refuerzo inmediato y salud, correspondientes a las motivaciones extrínsecas e intrínsecas, respectivamente. En cambio, en los estudiantes se observó mayor carga en los ítems que incluían las categorías autocontrol y presión social de las motivaciones intrínsecas y extrínsecas, respectivamente.

Motivación para dejar de fumar en funcionarios y estudiantes universitarios ex fumadores / Motivations to quit smoking among former smoker university students and workers

Background: In Chile, 10 percent of deaths in adults are directly attributed to smoking. Aim: To identify intrinsic and extrinsic motivations to quit smoking among a group of subjects that quitted without external help. Material and methods: The motivations to quit smoking were measured using the 20 items Reasons for Quitting Scale (RFQ), in 145 ex smokers (80 students and 65 workers at The University of Concepcion). The scale identifies intrinsic motivations in the categories health and self control and extrinsic motivations in the categories immediate reinforcement and social pressure. Results: Factorial analysis with orthogonal rotation of the 20 items of the scale, suggested an optimal solution with five factors, that had a maximal impact of 0.43 and explained the motivations in up to a 66 percent of workers and 65 percent of students. The factors with the greater impact were the items of immediate reinforcement, social pressure and self control. The category health had only a 6 percent influence in the modification of smoking habits. Conclusions: The most important motivations to quit smoking in this sample were an immediate reinforcement, social pressure and self control. The analysis of motivations will help to orient smoking cessation programs

Evaluación de las técnicas y errores en el uso de los inhaladores de dosis medida en el paciente adulto / Assessment of techniques and errors in the use of metered dose inhalers in adults

Background: Not all the techniques for the correct use of metered dose inhalers are used by patients and health care professionals. Aim: To assess the techniques and errors in the use of metered dose inhalers among patients and health care professionals. Material and methods : Evaluation of the inhaling technique, using a validated questionnaire, used by 68 patients, 30 physicians and 30 nurses working in a hospital at Concepción, Chile. Results: The "closed mouth" technique is used by 84 percent of patients, 40 percent of physicians and 73 percent of nurses. The rest uses the "open mouth" technique. The aerochamber is used by 12 percent of patients, 37 percent of physicians and 27 percent of nurses. The most frequent inhaling errors detected were not shaking the inhaler (26 percent of patients, 30 percent of physicians and 7 percent of nurses), not applying the puff at the start of inspiration (28 percent of patients, 7 percent of physicians and 13 percent of nurses), and not maintaining an apnea after the inhalation (41 percent of patients, 7 percent of physicians and 10 percent of nurses). Sixty percent of patients, 67 percent of physicians and 40 percent of nurses have not received instructions about the inhaler use. Conclusions: There is a high frequency of errors in the use of inhalers and most users have not been trained in its use

Utilidad del pH del líquido pleural en derrames pleurales neoplásicos / Usefulness of pleural fluid pH in neoplastic effusions

Con el objeto de evaluar la utilidad del pH pleural en pleuresías neoplásicas, se estudiaron retrospectivamente 16 casos hospitalizados en el Servicio de Medicina del Hospital Regional de Concepción. Se encontró pH plural normal (>7,30) en nueve enfermos y en 7 pH pleural bajo (< 7,30). Los casos con pH pleural bajo, resultaron con valores significativamente menores de glucosa pleural (p < 0,001), y con valores significativamente elevados de LDH pleural (p< 0,001). En relación a procedimientos diagnósticos, el rendimiento de la citología en líquido pleural para células neoplásticas fue mayor (71 por ciento), en los pacientes con pH pleural bajo. Los enfermos con ph pleural normal, fueron sometidos a pleurodesis con hidróxido de sodio y tuvieron mejor sobrevida (50 por ciento) a dos meses de observación que los no sometidos a este procedimiento (20 por ciento). En resumen, el estudio del pH pleural en derrames pleurales neoplásicos, presta utilidad como índice pronóstico, siendo al mismo tiempo indicativo para decidir una pleurodesis como terapia paliativa, puesto que la pleurodesis tiene una pobre relación costo/efecto si el pH del líquido pleural es menor de 7,30

Tabaquismo en académicos, no académicos y estudiantes de la Universidad de Concepción / Prevalence of smoking among academic, non-academic workers and students of the Universidad de Concepción

Background: Effective smoking cessation campaigns require as baseline, precise estimations of smoking habits in different populations. Aim: To assess the prevalence of smoking in academic, non-academics workers and student of the University of Concepción. Material and methods: In a random and stratified sample of 272 workers (including academics) and 1146 students, a previously validated, self administered questionnaire about smoking was applied. Daily smoking was defined as smoking seven or more cigarettes per week and occasional smoking as smoking less than seven cigarettes per week. Results: The prevalence of smoking was 23 percent among academics, 34 percent among non-academic workers and 44 percent among students. Nineteen percent of men and 16 percent of women were occasional smokers; 23 percent of men and 25 percent of women were daily smokers. Students started smoking at 15 ñ 2 years old and workers did so at 18 ñ 3 years old. The grater influence about smoking came from parents. Workers from the administrative services and from the natural sciences faculty had the higher prevalence of the habit. The total annual cost of smoking was $33,000,000 (US$62,000). Conclusions: The prevalence of smoking at the University of Concepción is higher among students than workers. Quitting programs are urgently needed

Tabaquismo, alcohol y drogas en estudiantes recién ingresados a la Universidad de Concepción / Smoking, alcohol and drugs consumption in just enrolled students at Universidad de Concepción, Chile

La asociación fumar tabaco, beber alcohol y consumir drogas es frecuente en los adolescentes. Por esta razón estudiamos a 1.192 estudiantes recién ingresados a la Universidad de Concepción. El 40, 1 por ciento fumaba y la asociación con consumo de alcohol era 9,6 por ciento y de drogas 6,5 por ciento; mientras que en los estudiantes no fumadores era de 3,1 por ciento y 1,3 por ciento respectivamente. Los estudiantes que bebían alcohol fumaban 67,7 por ciento y los que consumían drogas 70 por ciento; mientras que la prevalencia de fumadores en los que no bebían alcohol era de 38,4 y los que no consumían drogas era de 39,1 por ciento. La asociación de consumo de alcohol y drogas fue de 3,8 por ciento en los estudiantes fumadores y 0,2 por ciento en los estudiantes no fumadores. Estos antecedentes hacen necesario implementar un programa de prevención del tabaquismo, alcohol y drogas a nivel pre-escolar y escolar; y a nivel superior otorgar oportunidades de tratamientos para dejar de fumar, beber y abandonar el consumo de drogas

Hábitos de sueño y condiciones generales en que duermen los escolares de segundo ciclo básico / Sleep habits and general sleep conditions of high school students

Estudio descriptivo correlacional en una muestra de 129 escolares de quinto a octavo grado básico de una escuela de nivel medio bajo de Santiago de Chile. Tiene como propósito determinar las condiciones generales en que los niños duermen y los hábitos que poseen; así mismo determinar predictores de alteraciones del sueño. La edad promedio es de 12,3 años y el 54,3 por ciento son varones. Un 44,2 por ciento tiene alteración del sueño. En la muestra se observan condiciones ambientales inadecuadas para el buen dormir, como temperatura ambiente, luminosidad excesiva, falta de ventilación y presencia de ruido. En el 34,9 por ciento de las familias algún miembro presenta alteración del sueño y un 11,6 por ciento de los padres ingiere medicamentos para dormir.De los hábitos inadecuados se encuentra que el 22,7 por ciento ve televisión antes de dormir y el 12,6 por ciento se levanta a comer. Los hábitos de sueño y la calidad del mismo se asocian a alteraciones del sueño (p <0.001 y p <0.00001 respectivamente) Las variables asociadas a riesgo de presentar alteraciones del sueño son percepción de horas dormidas, condiciones en que el niño duerme, edad, ruido durante la noche, calificación del dormir y ver televisión antes de dormir. Se trata de un problema de salud pública que se debe abordar con enfoque educativo multidisciplinario.

Estudio comparativo de respuesta neuroendocrina y psicológica de stress / Comparative inquiry over neuroendocrine and psychological answer to stress

Investigación de análisis secundario, cuyo propósito fue indagar si existe relación entre parámetros neuroendocrinos que se liberan en situaciones de stress y percepción cognitiva de stress que tiene la persona al enfrentar el mismo estímulo de alarma, que en el presente trabajo correspondió al examen de arteriografía coronaria. N=28 pacientes. Se plantearon hipótesis que relacionan puntaje de escala termómetro del miedo con niveles plasmáticos de noradrenalina plasmática, glicemia y cortisol, en pacientes que se enfrentan a una arteriografía coronaria. Se trabajó con datos recolectados en investigación "Intervención de enfermería como estrategia para reducir el stress frente a una Arteriografía Coronaria". El stress fue medido por niveles: noradrenalina plasmática, glicemia, cortisol y escala termómetro del miedo (Walk 1956). Se trabajó con dócimas no paramédicas, coeficientes de correlación de Spearman y Kendall. Resultados permiten destacar que no existe correlación positiva entre puntajes de escala termómetro del miedo y niveles plasmáticos de noradrenalina, glicemia y cortisol. Concluyendo que la escala termómetro del miedo no es un instrumento de medición recomendable para medir stress