pigk Mutation underlies macho behavior and affects Rohon-Beard cell excitability.

The study of touch-evoked behavior allows investigation of both the cells and circuits that generate a response to tactile stimulation. We investigate a touch-insensitive zebrafish mutant, macho (maco), previously shown to have reduced sodium current amplitude and lack of action potential firing in sensory neurons. In the genomes of mutant but not wild-type embryos, we identify a mutation in the pigk gene. The encoded protein, PigK, functions in attachment of glycophosphatidylinositol anchors to precursor proteins. In wild-type embryos, pigk mRNA is present at times when mutant embryos display behavioral phenotypes. Consistent with the predicted loss of function induced by the mutation, knock-down of PigK phenocopies maco touch insensitivity and leads to reduced sodium current (INa) amplitudes in sensory neurons. We further test whether the genetic defect in pigk underlies the maco phenotype by overexpressing wild-type pigk in mutant embryos. We find that ubiquitous expression of wild-type pigk rescues the touch response in maco mutants. In addition, for maco mutants, expression of wild-type pigk restricted to sensory neurons rescues sodium current amplitudes and action potential firing in sensory neurons. However, expression of wild-type pigk limited to sensory cells of mutant embryos does not allow rescue of the behavioral touch response. Our results demonstrate an essential role for pigk in generation of the touch response beyond that required for maintenance of proper INa density and action potential firing in sensory neurons.

[Acceptance and use of medicinal plants in family medicine]. / Aceptación y uso de herbolaria en medicina familiar.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the degree of usage of therapeutic medical plants among the patients, physicians and health workers in a local Family Medical Care Unit of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS)). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A transversal descriptive study was performed. A questionnaire focusing on two variables was designed and validated. It was applied to 60 family physicians, a randomized sample of 130 health workers and another of 264 patients of the Family Mediccal Care Unit. Response percentage was 78%. RESULTS: The study found that 83% of family physicians accept the therapeutic use of herbal medicine; moreover, 75% use it as a therapeutic resource. Among health workers, acceptance and use was 100%, while in patients the level of acceptance was of 92% and of use it was 90%. Differences between groups are significant (p < 0.05). The more frequently used plants are Gordolobo (Gnaphalium sp.), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp., probably E. globulus), spearmint (Mentha sp.), camomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and prickly pear cladodes (the vegetative parts of the prickly pear, Opuntia sp. Probably Opuntia ficus indica). CONCLUSIONS: This information agrees with previous reports about Mexico, however, in this case, data were gathered in urban areas where physicians have been trained in the biomedical paradigm of medicine.

[Mortality ranking in the norwest of Mexico according to the years of productive life lost index]. / Reordenación de la mortalidad en el noroeste de México, según el índice de años de vida productivos perdidos.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the order of death causes in the Northwestern states of Mexico using the years of potential life lost (YPLL) index. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The 1995 INEGI mortality data base for the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa and Sonora was used to estimate the YPLL index. The method by Bustamante et al. was followed to calculate the cause of death, with ponderation of the potential investment, production and consumption of each individual, according to the age of death. RESULTS: A ranking of cause of death resulted from the application of the YPLL index. At present, in the four states, the group with the greatest potential loss is that between 5 and 14 years of age, and the rate is higher in Baja California than in Sonora. The group of "Perinatal problems as a cause of death" ranked first in three states and in the fourth, Sinaloa, the group of "Homicide and lesions caused intentionally by another person" ranked first. CONCLUSIONS: This work highlights the importance of the YLPP with economic loss ponderation index to discriminate death causes among states in a region with apparently homogeneous mortality.