Caracterización citogenética en cáncer laríngeo / Cytogenetic characterization in laryngeal cancer

El cáncer laríngeo representa un 23 por ciento de las neoplasias malignas en la práctica clínica del otorrinolaringólogo. Mediante técnicas de citogenética se ha logrado describior cambios en el DNA de tumores epiteliales de cabeza y cuello, siendo lo mas frecuentes pérdida de 3p, 8p y 18q. Entre Mayo de 1996 y Julio de 1997 se estudiaron 13 pacientes con diagnóstico de cáncer laríngeo. Las alteraciones encontrada corresponden a pérdida del cromosoma Y, alteraciones del cromosoma 5, 4q+, 2p-y manosomía del cromosoma 15

Animal poisonings: the 10-year experience of a veterinary analytical toxicology laboratory.

Data on 10-y of chemical toxicological analyses carried out in a veterinary laboratory in Barcelona, Spain for suspected wild and domestic animal poisonings are summarized. The 218 cases involved more than 1 million animals, some 7,500 of which died. Pesticides, especially insecticides (46.6%) and rodenticides (37.9%), were frequently involved. Strychnine (n = 11) and aldicarb (n = 10) were the most usual toxic agents in baits prepared for intentional poisonings; other cases involved pentachlorophenol, hexachlorocyclohexane or anticoagulant rodenticides. Service to veterinarians and others could be improved if a coordinated network of national and regional Animal Poison Centers were created.

Comparative study on the fatty acid composition of two marine vertebrates: striped dolphins and loggerhead turtles.

The fatty acid composition of total lipids extracted from seven different tissues (fat, liver, cerebrum, cerebellum, lung, kidney and muscle) of 10 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) (weight 75.7 +/- 16.2 kg) found dead or moribund during a morbillivirus epizootic, and from two tissues (fat and liver) of 54 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) (18.5 +/- 10.5 kg) seized dead after illegal capture, both from the Mediterranean Sea, have been determined by high resolution chromatography techniques. When comparing both species, fatty acid composition is surprisingly similar, with a predominance of the monoenoic followed by the saturated group of fatty acids, and a very close ratio of polyunsaturates n-3/n-6. The relatively high arachidonic acid content in the liver of the two marine species is remarkable. The similar diet can play an important role in these findings, but it is suggested that probably metabolic pathways and essential fatty acid requirements between both marine vertebrates are similar, more than is expected from their earlier filogenetic evolutionary divergence.

Traditional birth attendants in Mexico: advantages and inadequacies of care for normal deliveries.

In Mexico, traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are an essential resource for health care, especially in small rural communities where they attend approximately 45% of all deliveries. Both rural and urban women seek care with the TBAs because, amongst other things, they share the same cultural codes. In this study, qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze the concepts, resources and process of care during birth in rural areas of the state of Morelos. Results show that the socio-economic characteristics of the TBAs are similar to those of the patients, that they share the same precarious living conditions, and the resources to which they have access for providing care during births. When choosing a TBA as a health care provider, both the economic aspect and the importance of a shared symbolism come into play. We observed advantages in some of the traditional practices which should be incorporated into the medical system, for example protection through the massage of the perineum at the moment of expulsion. Nevertheless, there are inadequacies for which the implementation of training programs is fundamental, before articulate primary care programs using the TBAs can be promoted.

Organochlorine residues in tissues of striped dolphins affected by the 1990 Mediterranean epizootic: relationships with the fatty acid composition.

A simple and rapid method was developed for the simultaneous determination of fatty acids, organochlorine pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in the same sample in order to explore possible connections between levels of contaminants and fatty acid composition. The method was applied to samples of melon, cerebrum, cerebellum, lung, liver, kidneys, and skeletal muscle obtained from 5 male and 5 female striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) found stranded in 1990 in the northeastern Spanish coasts during the morbillivirus epizootic that affected this cetacean in the Mediterranean Sea. The results indicate that PCBs were dominant in all tissues, with the highest geometric mean concentration being found in melon (903 micrograms g-1 wet wt); sigma DDTs were also found at high concentrations (111 micrograms g-1 wet wt, in melon). Statistical analysis indicate that organochlorine concentration was correlated with the fatty acid composition of tissues, although some of these variations can be interpreted as a consequence of a shift in the diet produced in the striped dolphin population. However, other changes such as the negative correlation with arachidonic acid may suggest that the eicosanoid production could have been affected by the extremely high concentrations of PCBs and sigma DDTs.

[Midwives' perception of reproductive risk factors]. / Percepción de las parteras sobre factores de riesgo reproductivo.

Midwives in rural areas of the State of Morelos are one of the most important resources used by rural women for health care of pregnancy, delivery and the puerperium. This work was aimed at identifying midwives perceptions of pregnant women's risk factors, in order to include this knowledge in reproductive health programs which articulate institutional and traditional health systems. We applied a questionnaire to all midwives in the Municipalities of Ocuituco, yecapixtla and Zacualpan, Morelos (n = 35). Four key informants were selected and interviewed. These instruments enabled us to measure variability in perception of risk factors. Knowledge of risk factors is defective among midwives. Previous training made a big difference. Sixty three per cent of midwives who attended training courses are better qualified from an academic medicine point of view. Only 28.7 per cent of non-trained midwives (43% for both groups), indicating that sociocultural aspects prevail over technical training in midwives perceptions of reproductive risk factors.

[Regionalization in health: an instrument for jurisdictional planning]. / Regionalización en salud: un instrumento para la planeación jurisdiccional.

This study carried out the regionalization of Sanitary Jurisdiction No. III seated in Cuautla, Morelos, consisting of 16 of a total of 33 municipalities in the state of Morelos. This regionalization was carried out through the delination of areas sharing similar socioeconomical and demographic characteristics (SED). Subsequently, the major health hazards and the intraregional distribution of human health resources (physicians and nurses) and infrastructure services (institutional health centers) were identified for each region. The aim of this work was to devise an instrument for a better understanding of and approach to health problems at a juridictional level and to pave the way for health planning that would be congruent with regional characteristics and needs. Health sector efforts would be directed towards the promotion of preventive health care with greater efficiency and equity. In order to regionalize the jurisdiction, 17 SED indicators were studied in each of the 16 municipalities. Analysis was performed using the Principal Components Method (MCP) and an epidemiologic score. As a result, the sanitary jurisdiction was divided into three regions: Region I, with the best SED conditions, Region II, with moderate SED conditions and Region III with the lowest SED conditions. The results of this study show that there is an inverse relationship between the intraregional distribution of health resources with respect to the delineated regions and the health resources with respect to the delineated regions and the health needs and problems found in each one. Region III showed the worst SED conditions and the highest incidence of disease. It proved to be the region which had the greatest lack of material and human health resources, the latter having the lowest technical training level in all of the jurisdiction. In contrast. Region I had the best SED conditions and the lowest incidence of disease. It also had the highest number of material and human health resources, the latter having a high level of preparation. This situation is opposite to the national health policies in regards to equity "...give more benefits to the more vulnerable groups..."

Fiebre tifoidea. Complicaciones en 782 ninos hospitalizados. / Typhoid fever.Complications in 782 hospitalized children

Se revisaron 782 casos de fiebre tifoidea en ninos hospitalizados a traves de un periodo de 5 anos en dos establecimientos de Santiago Los separamos en 2 grupos: a) con bacteriologia negativa. b) complicados o no complicados Se analizaron porcentaje, tipo, tratamiento y evolucion de los casos complicados. El resultado de nuestra revision indica que se complica el 12,7% de los casos. De ellos, solo el 5,4% corresponde a casos bacteriologicamente confirmados y el 7,3% a casos con bacteriologia negativa. Se uso cloramfenicol en la mayoria de los pacientes, solo excepcionalmente se recurrio a la cirugia; la evolucion de casi todos fue satisfactoria, excepto en caso en el que el paciente fallecio

Hepatitis por virus B en la infancia. / Hepatitis virus B in childhood

De 317 casos de hepatitis aguda hospitalizados en el Servicio de Infecciosos, Hospital Paula Jaraquemada, entre abril de 1973 y agosto de 1980, se analizan retrospectivamente 7 casos de hepatitis a virus B.El diagnostico se hizo por la presencia de Ag Superficial de hepatitis B (Ag HBs) determinado por imunoelectroforesis en contracorriente (CIEF) Se destaca la incidencia, evolucion clinica, caracteristicas de laboratorio y pronostico.La incidencia, de hepatitis B fue de 2,2% El 85,77% de los casos tenian entre 4 y 8 anos de edad. El antecedente de transfusion esta presente en el 57,14% de los casos. Las manifestaciones clinicas no muestran diferencias con las de hepatitis a virus A. Se enfatiza una vez mas sobre el valor de las cifras de protrombina como indice pronostico. La letalidad fue de 14,3%. De los 5 casos en que se controlo Ag. HBs, 5 casos se negativizaron La evolucion fue hacia hepatitis prolongada en 3 casos, hepatitis cronica activa en 1 caso precoma hepatico 2 casos (falleciendo 1), y solo 1 caso evoluciono sin complicaciones