The Effect of Sedation on Diagnostic Lumbar Medial Branch Blocks for Facetogenic Low Back Pain: An Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar medial branch blocks (MBB) are some of the most commonly performed pain procedures in the United States. Diagnostic MBBs are performed to confirm if the generator of low back pain is the facet joint. However, with diagnostic injections, false positive blocks may occur. OBJECTIVES:   Our prospective observational study aims to investigate the effects of midazolam sedation on patients' perceived intensity of pain relief following lumbar MBB. STUDY DESIGN: This is a single-center multi-site prospective observational study registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04453449). SETTING: The study was approved by the Henry Ford Health System Institutional Review Board (IRB) in June 2020 (IRB# 14010) and registered on clinicaltrials.gov in July 2020 (NCT04453449). This manuscript adheres to the applicable EQUATOR STROBE guidelines for an observational cohort study. METHODS: Patients that underwent MBB without sedation were compared to sedated patients. Patients were asked to complete the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) at baseline, one day after their diagnostic blocks, as well as 4 weeks and 8 weeks after their lumbar radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The primary outcome is the difference between baseline NRS pain scores and the lowest reported score in the 8 hours following MBB. For patients who proceed to RFA, the frequency of false positive blocks was evaluated. A patient was considered to have a false positive block when they failed to achieve 50% pain relief from RFA after 2 successful sequential MBBs. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the NRS pain score change between the sedated and non-sedated groups for diagnostic block one (P = 0.167) and diagnostic block 2 (P = 0.6145). There was no significant difference of false positive rates between non-sedation and sedation patients at 4-weeks post-RFA (P = 0.7178) and at 8-weeks post-RFA (P = 1.000). LIMITATIONS: Some of the limitations of this study include its nonrandomized design, patient self-reported pain scores, as well as the small variability in the injection technique of proceduralists and in the anatomical location of the injection site. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that midazolam did not change patients' perceived intensity of pain following MBB, as well as false positive rates after RFA. Larger studies are required to draw definitive conclusions.

Comportamiento espacial de indicadores fisicoquímicos y calidad del suelo en plantación de Theobroma cacao en Padre Abad, Ucayali, Perú

El cultivo de cacao en el trópico peruano presenta bajos rendimientos, lo que exige buscar alternativas para aumentar la producción. Frente a esta situación, los estudios geoespaciales facilitan el diagnóstico de fertilidad y la aplicación de planes de fertilización. Por lo tanto, se evaluó la distribución espacial de indicadores fisicoquímicos y calidad del suelo en Padre Abad, región Ucayali, Perú. Se evaluaron indicadores fisicoquímicos y la calidad del suelo y se sometieron al análisis geoestadístico, a través del interpolador Kriging, encontrándose coeficientes de variación bajos para arcilla, pH y potasio K y medios para arena, limo, materia orgánica (MO), nitrógeno (N), fósforo (P), potasio (K+), calcio (Ca2+), magnesio (Mg2+), aluminio (Al3+), capacidad de intercambio de cationes (CIC), saturación de bases (SB), acidez cambiable (AC) y saturación de aluminio (SAl). La calidad del suelo varió entre baja a muy baja, con una distribución espacial de 52,24 y 47,76 %. El análisis de componentes principales encontró significancia para arena, limo, MO, N, K+, Al3+, CIC, %AC, %BC y %SAl, todos presentan variación espacial, según su nivel de fertilidad, excepto K+. Los modelos de interpolación con mejores ajustes fue el exponencial y lineal con dependencia espacial fuerte para arena, limo y K, moderada para MO, N, Al, CIC, %SAl e índice de calidad del suelo y débil para %BC y %AC, con una eficiencia de predicción confiable. Se encontró alta variabilidad espacial con valores medios de los diferentes indicadores de fertilidad bajos, no favorables para el desarrollo del cultivo de cacao.

Cocoa cultivation in the Peruvian tropics has low yields, which requires seeking alternatives to increase the production. Faced with this situation, geospatial studies facilitate the diagnosis of fertility and the efficient application of fertilization plans. Therefore, the spatial distribution of physicochemical indicators and soil quality in Padre Abad, Ucayali region, Peru were evaluated. Physicochemical indicators and soil quality were evaluated and subjected to geostatistical analysis through the Kriging interpolator, finding low coefficients of variation for clay, pH and potassium (K+), and medium for sand, silt, organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), aluminum (Al3+), cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (BS), exchangeable acid (EA) and aluminum saturation (AlS). Soil quality ranged from low to very low quality with a spatial distribution of 52.24 % and 47.76 % respectively. Principal component analysis found significance for sand, silt, OM, N, K+, Al3+, CEC, %EC, %BS and %AlS, all showing spatial variation according to their fertility level, except K+. The interpolation models with best fits were the exponential and linear with strong spatial dependence for sand, silt and K, moderate for MO, N, Al, CEC, %AlS and soil quality index (SQI), and weak for %BS and %EC, with reliable prediction efficiency. The research found high spatial variability with low mean values of the different fertility indicators, not favorable for cocoa crop development.

Oral Vaccination Reduces the Effects of Lawsonia intracellularis Challenge on the Swine Small and Large Intestine Microbiome.

Porcine proliferative enteropathy remains one of the most prevalent diseases in swine herds worldwide. This disease is caused by Lawsonia intracellularis, an intracellular bacterial pathogen that primarily colonizes the ileum. In this study, we evaluated changes to the microbiome of the ileal mucosa, ileal digesta, cecal digesta, and feces subsequent to challenge with L. intracellularis and to an oral live vaccine against L. intracellularis. Given that gut homogenates have been used since 1931 to study this disease, we also characterized the microbial composition of a gut homogenate from swine infected with L. intracellularis that was used as challenge material. The L. intracellularis challenge led to a dysbiosis of the microbiome of both the small and large intestine marked by an increase of pathobionts including Collinsella, Campylobacter, Chlamydia, and Fusobacterium. This microbiome response could play a role in favoring L. intracellularis colonization and disease as well as potentially predisposing to other diseases. Vaccination altered both small and large intestine microbiome community structure and led to a significant 3.03 log10 reduction in the amount of L. intracellularis shed by the challenged pigs. Vaccination also led to a significant decrease in the abundance of Collinsella, Fusobacterium, and Campylobacter among other microbial changes compared with non-vaccinated and challenged animals. These results indicate that L. intracellularis infection is associated with broad changes to microbiome composition in both the large and small intestine, many of which can be mitigated by vaccination.

Metabolic acidosis and hyperkalemia differentially regulate cation HCN3 channel in the rat nephron.

The kidney controls body fluids, electrolyte and acid-base balance. Previously, we demonstrated that hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) cation channels participate in ammonium excretion in the rat kidney. Since acid-base balance is closely linked to potassium metabolism, in the present work we aim to determine the effect of chronic metabolic acidosis (CMA) and hyperkalemia (HK) on protein abundance and localization of HCN3 in the rat kidney. CMA increased HCN3 protein level only in the outer medulla (2.74 ± 0.31) according to immunoblot analysis. However, immunofluorescence assays showed that HCN3 augmented in cortical proximal tubules (1.45 ± 0.11) and medullary thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (4.48 ± 0.45) from the inner stripe of outer medulla. HCN3 was detected in brush border membranes (BBM) and mitochondria of the proximal tubule by immunogold electron and confocal microscopy in control conditions. Acidosis did not alter HCN3 levels in BBM and mitochondria but augmented them in lysosomes. HCN3 was also immuno-detected in mitoautophagosomes. In the distal nephron, HCN3 was expressed in principal and intercalated cells from cortical to medullary collecting ducts. CMA did not change HCN3 abundance in these nephron segments. In contrast, HK doubled HCN3 level in cortical collecting ducts and favored its basolateral localization in principal cells from the inner medullary collecting ducts. These findings further support HCN channels contribution to renal acid-base and potassium balance.

The Impact of Tobacco Smoking on Spinal Cord Stimulation Effectiveness in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Patients.

OBJECTIVES: We aim to investigate the correlation of smoking and spinal cord stimulation (SCS) effectiveness for pain relief in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) patients while controlling for possible confounding factors including opioid intake. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following Institutional Review Board approval, a retrospective cohort study was performed by collecting data for all CRPS patients treated with SCS at Cleveland Clinic between 1998 and 2013. We divided patients into three groups based on their smoking status at the time of SCS device implant: Current smokers, former smokers, or nonsmokers. We used a linear mixed modeling to assess the association between smoking status and pain score at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. We then used pairwise t-tests for post hoc comparisons of pain scores. RESULTS: Of the 420 CRPS patients treated with SCS implants, the reduction in pain score was highest among nonsmokers. Nonsmokers demonstrated a consistent and steady decrease in pain scores over time, whereas the current and former smoker cohorts showed an initial reduction in pain at three months compared to baseline which was not sustained to the 12-months benchmark. Nonetheless, former smokers continued to report slightly lower pain scores than current smokers, although not statistically significant. The baseline opioid consumption was least among nonsmokers (30 [0, 62] oral mg morphine sulfate equivalent). We also found a statistically significant association between time postimplant and reported pain score (χ2 = 508.88, p < 0.001). The overall mean pain score for all three cohorts was highest at baseline (7.6 ± 1.7) and showed a decrease at the 3, 6, and 12 months postimplant time points with mean score of 5.7 ± 2.0, 5.6 ± 2.3, and 5.4 ± 2.5, respectively. CONCLUSION: Tobacco cigarette smoking was associated with reduced SCS effectiveness for pain relief.

The effects of Lawsonia intracellularis, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and co-infection on IL-8 and TNFα expression in IPEC-J2 cells.

Lawsonia intracellularis is among the most important enteric pathogens of swine and has been shown to be a risk factor for increased Salmonella enterica shedding. S. enterica serovar Typhimurium, in addition to being a significant pathogen of swine, also remains one of the most common causes of foodborne illness worldwide. Inflammation and the expression of IL8 and TNFα are an important process in the establishment of S. Typhimurium infection. Yet the effect of L. intracellularis on the expression of these cytokines by enterocytes, the niche both pathogens occupy during infection, is poorly understood. In this study we compared cytokine gene expression between singly and dually infected IPEC-J2 cells, a non-transformed porcine enterocyte cell line. Our results show that L. intracellularis leads to increased expression of IL8 and TNFα and has an additive effect on their expression in co-infection. The increase in expression of inflammatory cytokines may be one mechanism by which L. intracellularis favors S. Typhimurium infection.

Association between Blood Viscosity and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Arterial Hypertension in a High Altitude Setting.

Background  Blood viscosity is a determinant of vascular resistance, and it is expected to contribute to blood pressure. Arterial hypertension (HTN), in addition to other cardiovascular risk factors, contribute to cardiac morbidity. Our study aimed to establish the association between cardiovascular risk factors including HTN and whole blood viscosity in Ecuadorian patients. Material and methods We studied 132 patients with the diagnosis of HTN. Fifteen cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed. The association between whole blood viscosity (WBV) and the number of cardiovascular risk factors was studied. The association between blood viscosity and risk factors was analyzed. Results  One hundred and thirty-two patients were analyzed. Blood viscosity was associated with a number of cardiovascular risk factors. Creatinine, uric acid, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) values were significantly higher in patients with high blood viscosity. Conclusion  Blood viscosity is a physiological variable associated with a number of cardiovascular risk factors in hypertensive patients. Such risk factors are related to renal function and lipid profiles. In high-altitude residents, polycythemia is common, and the consequences of high hematocrit on cardiovascular morbidity in this setting deserve special attention and warrant further research.

A Cell Proliferation and Inflammatory Signature Is Induced by Lawsonia intracellularis Infection in Swine.

Lawsonia intracellularis causes porcine proliferative enteropathy. This is an enteric disease characterized by thickening of the wall of the ileum that leads to decreased growth of animals and diarrhea. In this study, we investigated the host response to L. intracellularis infection by performing transcriptomic and pathway analysis of intestinal tissue samples from groups of infected and noninfected animals at 14, 21, and 28 days postchallenge. At the peak of infection, when animals developed the most severe lesions, infected animals had higher levels of several gene transcripts involved in cellular proliferation and inflammation, including matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP7), transglutaminase-2 (TGM2), and oncostatin M (OSM). Histomorphology also revealed general features of intestinal inflammation. This study identified important pathways associated with the host response in developing and resolving lesions due to L. intracellularis infection.IMPORTANCELawsonia intracellularis is among the most important enteric pathogens of swine, and it can also infect other mammalian species. Much is still unknown regarding its pathogenesis and the host response, especially at the site of infection. In this study, we uncovered several novel genes and pathways associated with infection. Differentially expressed transcripts, in addition to histological changes in infected tissue, revealed striking similarities between L. intracellularis infection and cellular proliferation mechanisms described in some cancers and inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This research sheds important light into the pathogenesis of L. intracellularis and the host response associated with the lesions caused by infection.

Effects of Lawsonia intracellularis infection in the proliferation of different mammalian cell lines.

Lawsonia intracellularis is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes proliferative enteropathy in various animal species. While cellular proliferation of intestinal cells is recognized as the hallmark of L. intracellularis infection in vivo, it has not been demonstrated in in vitro models. In order to assay the effect of L. intracellularis, various cell lines were infected with pathogenic and non-pathogenic passages of the bacterium. Because of the high proliferative rate of these cell lines, serum deprivation, which is known to reduce proliferation, was applied to each of the cell lines to allow the observation of proliferation induced by L. intracellularis. Using antibodies for Ki-67 and L. intracellularis in dual immunofluorescence staining, we observed that L. intracellularis was more frequently observed in proliferating cells. Based on wound closure assays and on the amount of eukaryotic DNA content measured over time, we found no indication that cell lines infected with L. intracellularis increased proliferation and migration when compared to non-infected cells (p > 0.05). Cell arrest due to decreased serum in the culture media was cell-line dependent. Taken together, our findings provide data to support and expand previous subjective observations of the absence of in vitro proliferation caused by L. intracellularis in cell cultures and confirm that cell lines infected by L. intracellularis fail to serve as adequate models for understanding the cellular changes observed in proliferative enteropathy-affected intestines.

The effects of zinc amino acid complex supplementation on the porcine host response to Lawsonia intracellularis infection.

Lawsonia intracellularis is among the most important enteric pathogens of swine and antibiotic alternatives are needed to help mitigate the negative effects of infection. Zinc is an essential trace mineral known to be crucial for maintaining intestinal barrier function and proper immune response. In this study, we investigated the porcine host response to L. intracellularis infection when supplemented with a zinc-amino acid complex, a form of zinc that can lead to greater bioavailability when compared to traditional inorganic forms of zinc. Our results show that a zinc-amino acid complex supplementation with a final concentration of 125 ppm of zinc in feed significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the number of animals with lesions and severity of lesions caused by L. intracellularis. Animals supplemented with the zinc-amino acid complex also exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) earlier onset of seroconversion as well as an increased number of T cells in infected and non-infected intestinal tissue. This study demonstrated that this zinc-amino acid complex aids the host in responding to L. intracellularis infection and may be a new approach to help minimize negative effects of disease.

[Personal development of youth in Medellín, Colombia: beyond risk behaviors and resilience]. / El desarrollo personal de los jóvenes de Medellín, Colombia: más allá de las conductas de riesgo y de resiliencia.

Research on young people has increasingly focused on dynamic and comprehensive approaches rather than merely behavior and psychopathology. Such studies help shed light on personal development in adolescents and the role of resilience for them from their own perspective, that is, young people facing a complex world of risks, opportunities, and omnipresent violence. A qualitative study was performed with a hermeneutic focus; 48 in-depth interviews were performed, analyzed with tools from the three-stage framework (descriptive, analytic, and interpretative). The results show that all-or-nothing classification of youth as resilient versus non-resilient (or "with" versus "without" behavior problems) fails to reflect how they experience their development, which is dynamic and changes according to their characteristics, potentialities, needs, and interests, as well as the opportunities they find in their contexts.

Disponibilidad y efectividad de relaciones significativas: elementos claves para promover resiliencia en jóvenes / Availability and effectiveness of meaningful relationships key elements to promote resilience in young people

Objetivo: Comprender la interacción entre contexto, recursos, redes de apoyo y características de los jóvenes de la ciudad de Medellín para la promoción de la resiliencia. Metodología: Investigación cualitativa, mediante teoría fundamentada, con 48 jóvenes. Resultados principales: El vínculo con personas significativas, quienes brindan tanto apoyo emocional, orientación moral y seguridad personal, como recursos relacionales, sociales, económicos, educativos y espirituales, permiten al joven una serie de experiencias, en donde aprende a usar estos recursos de manera personal, social y culturalmente válida, proceso que da lugar al aprendizaje resiliente. Estos adultos son valorados por los jóvenes, por su capacidad para resolver problemas, gestionar recursos, y poner límites. Conclusión: Las relaciones significativas con adultos, posibilitan al joven recursos afectivos y materiales, que a su vez le lleva a experiencias en las que emergen conductas resilientes, acordes tanto a su bienestar subjetivo como social

Objective: To understand the interaction between context, resources, support networks and characteristics of Medellin´s young people to promote resilience Methodology: Qualitative research, grounded theory, with 48 young people. Results: the relationship with significant others, who provide emotional support, moral guidance and personal security and the social, economic, educational, spiritual, relational resources, which is conducive from these relations and are used socially and culturally valid by young serve to promote resilience. These adults are valued by young people, in their ability to solve problems, manage resources, and set limits. Conclusion: The meaningful relationships with adults, enable the young affective and material resources, which in turn, leads to experiences that emerge resilient behaviors and learn to use them, socially and culturally valid

El desarrollo personal de los jóvenes de Medellín, Colombia: más allá de las conductas de riesgo y de resiliencia / Personal development of youth in Medellín, Colombia: beyond risk behaviors and resilience / Desenvolvimento pessoal entre jovens em Medellín, Colômbia: para além de comportamentos de risco e resiliência

Resumen: El estudio de los jóvenes se ha ido afianzando hacia enfoques dinámicos e integrales, y no sólo de tipo comportamental y psicopatológico, así se consideró contribuir a la comprensión de la manera en que se produce el desarrollo personal de los adolescentes, y el lugar que ocupa la resiliencia en ellos desde su propia perspectiva, en jóvenes que se ven enfrentados a un mundo complejo, de riesgos y oportunidades, donde la violencia es una clara característica. Se hizo una investigación cualitativa, con un enfoque hermenéutico; se realizaron 48 entrevistas en profundidad, las cuales se analizaron con herramientas de la teoría fundamentada en tres etapas, descriptiva, analítica e interpretativa. Se encontró que la clasificación taxativa de los jóvenes como resilientes o no, o con problemas de conducta o no, no corresponde a cómo ellos viven su desarrollo, este se da de manera dinámica y cambiante, de acuerdo con sus características, potencialidades, necesidades e intereses, y las oportunidades que encuentran en los contextos.

Abstract: Research on young people has increasingly focused on dynamic and comprehensive approaches rather than merely behavior and psychopathology. Such studies help shed light on personal development in adolescents and the role of resilience for them from their own perspective, that is, young people facing a complex world of risks, opportunities, and omnipresent violence. A qualitative study was performed with a hermeneutic focus; 48 in-depth interviews were performed, analyzed with tools from the three-stage framework (descriptive, analytic, and interpretative). The results show that all-or-nothing classification of youth as resilient versus non-resilient (or "with" versus "without" behavior problems) fails to reflect how they experience their development, which is dynamic and changes according to their characteristics, potentialities, needs, and interests, as well as the opportunities they find in their contexts.

Resumo: As pesquisas sobre jovens têm se concentrado cada vez mais em abordagens dinâmicas e integradas, em vez de apenas no comportamento e na psicopatologia. Tais estudos ajudam a elucidar o desenvolvimento pessoal dos adolescentes e o papel da resiliência para eles próprios, partindo da sua própria perspectiva, isto é, de jovens que enfrentam um mundo complexo de riscos, oportunidades e violência. Foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa com enfoque hermenêutico, usando 48 entrevistas em profundidade, analisadas com ferramentas teóricas em três estágios (descritivo, analítico e interpretativo). Os resultados mostram que a classificação dicotômica de jovens em resilientes versus não-resilientes (ou "com" versus "sem" problemas de comportamento) deixa de captar a maneira pela qual esses jovens vivenciam seu desenvolvimento, que é dinâmico e que muda de acordo com suas características, potencialidades, necessidades e interesses, além das oportunidades que encontram.

University students' perceived norms of peers and drug use: a multicentric study in five Latin American countries.

This cross-sectional study compared perceived peer drug use and actual drug use in a sample of Latin American university students. Students from nine universities in five countries (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Honduras and Peru) completed a questionnaire that addressed the use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. Analysis focused on comparing perceptions to actual drug use. The findings largely, but not completely, confirmed the idea that students overestimate peer drug use. The unexpected findings were those relating to alcohol. While students generally overestimated peer use of tobacco, marijuana and cocaine, they accurately estimated or underestimated peer use of alcohol. Apart from the anomalous findings with regard to alcohol, this study shows that perceived drug use relates to actual drug use in Latin America as it does elsewhere. The results also support the suggestion that interventions using normative feedback would be useful to strengthen drug use prevention programs aimed at youth in Latin America.

[Consumption and perceived use of licit and illicit drugs among university students, Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia]. / Consumo percibido y uso de drogas lícitas e ilícitas en estudiantes universitarios en la Ciudad de Medellín, Colombia.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to estimate differences between perceived and reported drug use among sophomore and junior university students, aged 18 to 24 years, from a public university in Medellin, Colombia. METHOD: this is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. All second- and third-year students at the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Public Health were invited to answer an anonymous questionnaire. In total, 427 students participated. RESULTS: data suggest that students overestimate the use of tobacco, marijuana and cocaine over the last 12 months. Alcohol use was perceived accurately. Students who reported using those substances during that period overestimated their peers' drug use more than those who did not. Furthermore, more women than men overestimated marijuana use.

University students' perceived norms of peers and drug use: a multicentric study in five Latin American countries / Normas percibidas por estudiantes universitarios respecto a sus pares y el uso de drogas: estudio multicéntrico en cinco países de América Latina / Normas percebidas por estudantes universitários sobre seus companheiros e uso de drogas: um estudo multicêntrico em cinco países da América Latina

This cross-sectional study compared perceived peer drug use and actual drug use in a sample of Latin American university students. Students from nine universities in five countries (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Honduras and Peru) completed a questionnaire that addressed the use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. Analysis focused on comparing perceptions to actual drug use. The findings largely, but not completely, confirmed the idea that students overestimate peer drug use. The unexpected findings were those relating to alcohol. While students generally overestimated peer use of tobacco, marijuana and cocaine, they accurately estimated or underestimated peer use of alcohol. Apart from the anomalous findings with regard to alcohol, this study shows that perceived drug use relates to actual drug use in Latin America as it does elsewhere. The results also support the suggestion that interventions using normative feedback would be useful to strengthen drug use prevention programs aimed at youth in Latin America.

Este estudio transversal se comparó la percepción que se tiene del consumo de los pares con el uso real de drogas, en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios de América Latina. Los estudiantes de nueve universidades en cinco países (Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Honduras y Perú) respondieron a un cuestionario que abordaba el uso de tabaco, alcohol, marihuana y cocaína. El análisis se concentró en la comparación de la percepción y el consumo real de drogas. Los resultados en gran medida, aunque no completamente, confirmaron que los estudiantes sobreestiman el uso de drogas entre sus pares. Los resultados inesperados fueron los relacionados con el alcohol. Mientras que los estudiantes generalmente sobrestimaron el consumo de tabaco, marihuana y cocaína entre sus pares, los mismos estimaron con bastante precisión o subestimaron el uso de alcohol entre sus pares. Además de los resultados inesperados en relación al alcohol, este estudio muestra que la percepción del uso de drogas en América Latina se comporta de manera similar a otros lugares. Los resultados también apoyan la sugerencia respecto a que la retroalimentación normativa sería útil para fortalecer los programas de prevención de drogas dirigidos a jóvenes en América Latina.

Este estudo transversal comparou a percepção dos companheiros de usuários de drogas em uma amostra de estudantes universitários da América Latina. Os estudantes de nove universidades, localizadas em cinco países (Brasil, Chile, Colômbia, Honduras e Peru) responderam questionário que abordou questões sobre o tagagismo, álcool, maconha e cocaína. A análise foi focalizada na comparação da percepção e da realidade dos atuais usuários de drogas. Os resultados confirmaram, de forma geral, a ideia de que os estudantes superestimam o uso de drogas. Resultados inesperados foram identificados em relação ao uso de álcool. Enquanto os estudantes geralmente superestimam o uso de tabaco, maconha e cocaína, entre seus pares, estimaram com bastante precisão ou subestimaram o uso de álcool entre seus pares. Apesar desse resultado inesperado, este estudo mostra que a percepção do uso de drogas entre estudantes universitários da América Latina se comporta de maneira similar ao uso de drogas em outras localidades. Os resultados também apóiam a sugestão de que intervenções, usando retroalimentação normativa, seriam úteis para fortalecer os programas de prevenção ao uso de drogas, dirigidos aos jovens da América Latina.

Consumo percibido y uso de drogas lícitas e ilícitas en estudiantes universitarios en la Ciudad de Medellín, Colombia / Consumo percebido e uso das drogas lícitas e ilícitas em estudantes universitários, Antioquia, Medellín, Colômbia / Consumption and perceived use of licit and illicit drugs among university students, Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia

El propósito de este estudio fue estimar la diferencia entre el consumo percibido en los pares y el uso real de drogas que tienen los estudiantes universitarios de segundo y tercer año, entre 18 y 24 años de edad, de una universidad pública en la ciudad de Medellín, Colombia. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo transversal basado en una encuesta. Todos los estudiantes de segundo y tercer año de las facultades de Medicina, Odontología, Enfermería y Salud Publica fueron invitados a responder un cuestionario anónimo. Participaron 427 estudiantes. Se encontró una sobreestimacion del consumo de tabaco, marihuana y cocaina en los ultimos doce meses. El consumo de alcohol es percibido de manera exacta. Los estudiantes que consumieron drogas, en el periodo mencionado, sobreestiman más que los que no lo hicieron; también se encontró que las mujeres sobreestiman más que los hombres el consumo de marihuana.

The purpose of this study was to estimate differences between perceived and reported drug use among sophomore and junior university students, aged 18 to 24 years, from a public university in Medellin, Colombia. Method: this is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. All second- and third-year students at the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Public Health were invited to answer an anonymous questionnaire. In total, 427 students participated. RESULTS: data suggest that students overestimate the use of tobacco, marijuana and cocaine over the last 12 months. Alcohol use was perceived accurately. Students who reported using those substances during that period overestimated their peers' drug use more than those who did not. Furthermore, more women than men overestimated marijuana use.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a diferença entre o consumo percebido entre os pares e o consumo real das drogas que fazem os estudantes universitários do segundo e terceiro ano, entre 18 e 24 anos de idade, em uma universidade pública na cidade de Medellín, Colômbia. Este é um estudo descritivo transversal, baseado em censo. Todos os alunos do segundo e terceiro ano das faculdades de medicina, odontologia, enfermagem e saúde pública foram convidados a responder, anonimamente, um questionário. Participaram 427 estudantes. Quanto aos resultados foi observada superestimação do consumo de tabaco, maconha e cocaína nos últimos doze meses. O consumo de álcool foi percebido com precisão. Os alunos que consumiram no período mencionado, superestimam mais do que aqueles que não o fizeram, como as mulheres sobreestimam mais do que os homens o consumo de maconha.

Susceptibilidad antifúngica en dermatofitos / Antifungal susceptibility of dermatophytes

No existe hasta los momentos una prueba estandarizada para realizar la susceptibilidad antifúngica de los dermatofitos. El objetivo de este estudio fue implementar la técnica de los pozos de difusión para el estudio de la susceptibilidad de los dermatofitos. Se utilizaron un total de 100 aislados de dermatofitos (74 Trichophyton rubrum, 18 Trichophyton mentagrophytes, 1 Trichophyton tonsurans, 5 Microsporum canis y 2 Epidermophyton floccosum) provenientes de muestras clínicas aisladas e identificadas en la Sección de Micología Médica, IMT. Se empleó la técnica de los pozos de difusión con los siguientes antimicóticos: Griseofulvina, Terbinafina, Fluconazol e Itraconazol. Se aplicaron los criterios de interpretación acordados por la NCCLS. El inóculo, se estandarizó utilizando el peso como unidad. El medio Agar Staib demostró ser el más adecuado, al obtenerse un mejor crecimiento de los aislados en un 97%. Esta es la primera vez, que se utiliza el peso como medida para cuantificar el inóculo en los dermatofitos. La mayor sensibilidad se evidenció ante Terbinafina seguido de Griseofulvina e Itraconazol. No se demostró sensibilidad alguna ante el Fluconazol. Sin embargo se requieren más estudios en los cuales se relacione la susceptibilidad "in vitro" con los resultados "in vivo".