Reproductive parameters of Oreochromis mossambicus in Laguna de Los Patos, Cumaná, Venezuela.

A total of 381 specimens of the tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus collected monthly from May 2017 to May 2018 in the Laguna de Los Patos, Cumaná, Venezuela, to evaluate reproductive parameters of this non-native species. Significant differences were found in relation to average height and weight between males and females, with the highest values in males. The sex ratio was 1:1.5 (males:females), which deviates significantly from the expected 1:1 ratio. The mean length of sexual maturity (Lm50) was 18.0 cm in females and 20.1 cm in males, reflecting that females mature at smaller sizes than males. The monthly variations of the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and the stages of sexual maturity show two reproductive peaks during the study, in October 2017 and April 2018, coinciding with the rainy and dry seasons in the region respectively. The condition factor (CF) showed significant differences between months, but not between sexes, with an average of 1.87 in females and 1.84 in males. The average absolute fecundity was 921 ± 604.6 eggs per fish, with a relative fecundity of 8.36 ± 3.09 eggs per gram of fish. Differences in oocyte size in mature females confirm that the species can spawn repeatedly over a period, which is considered an important factor for the establishment of tilapia in non-native environments.

Estudio retrospectivo. Influencia de la Terapia Kinesiológica Temprana en el uso de Casco Modelador Craneal / Retrospective study. Influence of early physical therapy on the need to wear a skull molding helmet

Introducción. La plagiocefalia no sinostósica es una condición de salud caracterizada por una asimetría de cráneo que tiene diversas consecuencias en el desarrollo. Los principales tratamientos son la kinesioterapia y el casco de moldeado craneal (CMC). Objetivo. Evidenciar la influencia de la kinesioterapia temprana en la necesidad de usar casco modelador craneal. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo y retrospectivo en lactantes mayores de tres meses ingresados al Centro de Rehabilitación Integral de Carabineros (CRICAR) con diagnóstico confirmado de plagiocefalia mediante la técnica de craneometría. Se recopilaron datos de 39 pacientes diagnosticados con plagiocefalia, evaluados y tratados entre 2017 y 2019. Se dividieron en dos grupos, ingreso temprano (bajo los 5,5 meses de edad cronológica) e ingreso tardío (sobre los 5,5 meses de edad cronológica). Resultados. Al realizar un análisis bivariado, se obtuvo que 9 de 20 pacientes tuvieron que usar CMC en el grupo de ingreso tardío, y solo 4 de 19 pacientes en el grupo de ingreso temprano. Al contrastar la razón de riesgo de usar CMC en el grupo expuesto versus el grupo no expuesto se obtiene que es 3 veces mayor, sin embargo, esta diferencia no es estadísticamente significativa (OR=3.06, IC95% 0.6-16.8) Conclusiones. El principal resultado de este estudio es la disminución en la diferencia de diagonales evaluadas con craneometría. Además, se ha observado que en nuestra muestra el uso de CMC es tres veces mayor cuando el ingreso a terapia kinesiológica es tardío.

Introduction. Non-synostotic plagiocephaly is health condition characterized by a skull asymmetry that has various developmental consequences. The main treatments are kinesiotherapy and cranial molding helmet (CMH). The purpose of this study is to evidence the influence of early kinesiotherapy on the need to use CMH. Methods. A quantitative, descriptive and retrospective study of infants older than three months, admitted to the Carabineros Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center (CRICAR) since January 2017 with a confirmed diagnosis of plagiocephaly by craniometry technique was performed. Data were collected from 39 patients diagnosed with plagiocephaly, evaluated and treated between 2017 and 2019. They were divided into two groups, early admission (under 5.5 months of chronological age) and late admission (over 5.5 months of chronological age). Results. When performing a bivariate analysis, we obtained that 9 out of 20 patients had to use CMC in the late admission group, and only 4 out of 19 patients had to use it in the opposite group. When contrasting the oods ratio of using CMC in the exposed group versus the non-exposed group we obtain that it is 3 times higher, however, this difference is not statistically significant (OR=3.06, IC95% 0.6-16.8). Conclusions. The main result of this study is the decrease in the difference in diagonals assessed with craniometry. In addition, it has been observed that in our sample the use of CMC is three times higher when admission to physical therapy is late.

THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS (1994-2014) OF OZONE SOUNDINGS FROM RAPA NUI (27°S, 109°W, 51 M A.S.L.).

Ozone (O3) soundings have been performed on Easter Island or Rapa Nui (27°S, 23 109°W, 51 m a.s.l.) since 1994 as part of the Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) Programme of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In this work, we analyze 260 soundings compiled over the period 1994-2014, and make the data available for the international community. We characterize O3 profiles over this remote area of the Pacific by means of statistical analyses that consider, on the one hand, a traditional climatology that describes the data in terms of seasonal cycles based on monthly averages and, on the other hand, a process oriented analysis based on self-organizing maps. Our analyses show the influence of both tropical and subtropical/mid-latitude air masses at Rapa Nui. The former occurs in summer and fall when convective conditions prevail, and the latter in late winter and spring when subsiding conditions are recurrent. The occurrence of stratospheric intrusions in late winter and spring in connection with deep troughs and the presence of the subtropical jet stream is also apparent in the data set. The tropospheric ozone column is in good agreement with the corresponding data derived from satellites but with a systematic overestimate of summer and fall values. We show evidence of an upward trend in ozone near the surface, which suggests the impact of local pollution. We look forward to an enhancement of the Rapa Nui observing site, given its location that offers a privileged position to observe climate change over the sparsely sampled and vast South Pacific Ocean.

Las proteínas del plasma seminal incrementan la viabilidad espermática post-descongelación del semen de toros Sanmartinero / Seminal plasma proteins increase the post-thaw sperm viability of Sanmartinero bull’s semen

Objetivo. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de la adición de proteínas del plasma seminal sobre el porcentaje de espermatozoides bovinos viables post-descongelación. Materiales y métodos. Los espermatozoides se congelaron usando dos medios (citrato-fructosa-yema y Bioxcell®) y la obtención de proteínas de plasma seminal de bajo peso molecular se realizó por medio de cromatografía líquida de baja presión. Las proteínas de interés eluyeron en las fracciones 21-25 y se sometieron a electroforésis en una y dos dimensiones. Los espermatozoides se incubaron a 37°C durante una hora, con 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 y 2.0 mg de la fracción 21-25. Se incluyeron dos tratamientos adicionales: uno con proteínas totales del plasma seminal y otro sin proteína. Resultados. La electroforésis bidimensional de las fracciones confirmó la presencia de siete puntos de proteína de bajo peso molecular (14-16 kDa y punto Isoeléctrico de 5.0 - 5.5). La adición de estas proteínas aumentó 20% (p<0.05), el porcentaje de espermatozoides viables post-descongelación en muestras congeladas en medio citrato-fructosa-yema (con dosis de 1 ó 1.5 mg de proteína/106 espermatozoides), y 25% (p<0.05) en muestras congeladas en medio Bioxcell® (con dosis de 0.5 mg de proteína/106 espermatozoides). Conclusiones. Los resultados de esta investigación sugieren el posible uso de proteínas de bajo peso molecular del plasma seminal, para disminuir el efecto deletéreo de la criopreservación en los espermatozoides.

Objective.This study was performed to evaluate the effect of the addition of proteins on the post-thawing viability of spermatozoa. Materials and methods. Spermatozoa were frozen with two different media: Citrate-fructose and Bioxcell®. The isolation of seminal plasma proteins of low molecular weight was performed through low pressure liquid chromatography. It was determined that the proteins of interest eluted in fractions 21-25, and two dimensional electrophoresis was performed. Thawed sperm was incubated at 37°C for one hour with 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2.0 mg of 21-25 fraction protein. Two additional treatments were included: one with seminal plasma total protein, and another one without protein. Results. Two dimensional electrophoresis of protein confirmed the presence of two bands of 14 and 16 kDa and seven spots with iso-electric points between 5.0 - 5.5 respectively. Incubation of the spermatozoa with the 21-25 fraction showed that sperm viability increases by 20% with doses of 1 and 1.5 mg of protein/106 spermatozoa in the citrate-fructose medium, and 25% with 0.5 mg of protein/106 spermatozoa in Bioxcell® medium. A positive effect in sperm viability was demonstrated although it depends on the doses of protein and the cryopreservation medium used. Conclusions. This investigation suggests that the use of seminal plasma proteins can be useful for reducing the harmful effect on sperm cryopreservation.

Reconhecimento e uso de plantas medicinais pelos idosos do Município de Marmeleiro - Paraná / Recognition and use of medicinal plants by the elderly in the city of Marmeleiro - Paraná

O consumo de plantas medicinais tem base na tradição familiar e tornou-se prática generalizada na medicina popular. Neste sentido, este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar o grau de reconhecimento e uso de espécies medicinais utilizadas por 35 idosos do município de Marmeleiro - Paraná. Os resultados das entrevistas mostraram que todos os idosos conheciam, das vinte plantas medicinais apresentadas, a babosa, a camomila, a erva-cidreira, a macela, a malva, a manjerona, a noz-moscada, a pata-de-vaca e a sálvia. Além disso, 94% dos mesmos faziam o uso de plantas medicinais, sendo que 71,4% destes, utilizavam frequentemente, enquanto 94,2% foram influenciados principalmente pelos familiares (pais e avós). As plantas medicinais consumidas diariamente pelos idosos eram a erva-cidreira (48,6%), a malva (34,3%), o quebra-pedra (34,1%), a sálvia (25,7%), a camomila (22,9%), o guaco (20%), a carqueja e a macela (14,3%), a pata-de-vaca e o alecrim (8,6%) e a babosa (2,9%), preparadas na forma de chá (decocção) ou infusão. Vale destacar que a forma de obtenção das plantas medicinais era principalmente em plantações próprias (88,6%). Desta forma, informações acerca das plantas medicinais devem retornar para a população, em especial a mais idosa, enfatizando o modo de cultivo e colheita, através de técnicas desconhecidas por eles, bem como a melhor forma de utilização de cada espécie medicinal, estimulando seu uso, com maior eficacia e segurança.

The use of medicinal plants is based on family tradition and became a common practice in popular medicine. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the level of recognition and use of medicinal plants used by 35 elderly in the city Marmeleiro - Paraná. The results of the interviews showed that all elderly knew, from twenty medicinal plants presented, aloe vera, chamomile, lemon balm, camomile, mallow, marjoram, nutmeg, paw-of-cow and sage. Besides that, 94% of them used medicinal plants, 71.4% of these frequently, influenced mainly by the family (parents and grandparents) (94.2%). Medicinal plants consumed daily by the elderly were the lemon balm (48.6%), mallow (34.3%), shatterstone (34.1%), sage (25.7%), chamomile (22.9 %), guaco (20%), gorse and camomile (14.3%), paw-of-cow and rosemary (8.6%) and aloe vera (2.9%), prepared as tea (decoction) or infusion. We should note that the form to obtain the plants was mainly from their own gardens (88.6%). We conclude that the information about medicinal plants should be available to the public, especially the elderly, emphasizing the methods of cultivation and harvesting, with techniques still unknown to them, and the best way to use each medicinal species, encouraging their use, but with no damage to health.

Effect of various sterilization methods on the bioactivity of laser ablation pseudowollastonite coating.

Sterilization is required for using any material or device in contact with the human body. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of four sterilization methods (steam autoclave, hydrogen peroxide plasma, ethylene oxide, and gamma sterilization) on the surface chemistry and in vitro bioactivity of pseudowollastonite (psW) coatings in titanium alloys substrates. psW coatings in Ti-6Al-4V substrates obtained by laser ablation technique were sterilized and immersed in Kokubo's simulated body fluid (SBF) up to 30 days. No changes in the chemical composition were noted after sterilization. However, a Ca/P-layer of different thickness, identified as hydroxyapatite (HA) like was developed on all the samples after soaking, although, the ethylene oxide sterilized samples present a nonhomogeneous and approximately 55.9% thinner HA-like layer.

Self bone graft and simultaneous application of implants in upper jawbone.

The implant supported rehabilitation of upper back sectors, sometimes, is conditioned to the pneumatization of the jawbone and so, reducing the possibility to apply the implants when the bone portion is inferior to 4 mm (important condition for the primary stability).The great rise of the jawbone and the simultaneous application of implants is, surely, the condition to have the best success guarantees compared to the only application of filling material.The surgical technologies used in the self bone grafts are various (Ilium crest, calvaria, fibula) and so also for implant applications.In this article we want to put in evidence a new technology in order to reduce at the minimum the invasive surgery of the removal and the patient morbidity.It has been executed a longitudinal study on 21 consecutive cases and illustrated by a clinical one; the success was of 94.5%. The advantages of this technique are: Functional and anatomical recovery of the jaw cavityImmediate application of implants with a thickness of remaining bone in fervor to 4 mm.Reduction of surgical timesReduced morbidity of the patientLocal an anesthesia.

Solubility characterization of airborne uranium from an in situ uranium processing plant.

Solubility profiles of uranium dusts in the Irigaray uranium processing plant were determined by performing in vitro solubility tests on breathing zone air samples conducted in all process areas of the processing plant. The dissolution rate of the uranium on the air samples was then determined over the next 28 d in a simulant solution of the extracellular airway lining fluid (Gamble's solution). Airborne uranium in the wet process areas of the processing plant was highly soluble, with 97% dissolving in a 0.3 d half-time and 3% with a half-time of 15.6 d. The airborne uranium dusts in the drum load out area were also soluble, with 97% dissolving with a T1/2 of 0.25 d and the remainder with a T1/2 of 20 d. Exhaust from the drier stack and areas of the processing plant that had only this airborne uranium was slightly more insoluble, with 46% dissolving with a T1/2 of 0.4 d and 53% with an 18 d half-time. These results compare well with x-ray diffraction analysis of the uranium samples and the bioassay program for the processing plant workers.

[Spontaneous abortion: cytogenetic study of 609 cases]. / Aborto espontáneo: estudio citogenético en 609 casos.

Chromosomal abnormalities are the most frequent cause of first trimester spontaneous abortions (SA). During the period September 1989 through May 1996 we have cytogenetically studied 640 embryonic tissue samples obtained from cases of SA. Of these, 609 samples (95.1%) were successfully karyotyped. An abnormal karyotype was observed in 388 cases (63.7%). The sex ratio (XY/XX) was 1.03. There was no difference of this ratio between cytogenetically normal and abnormal embryos. The most frequent abnormalities detected were autosomal trisomies (239/388 [61.6%]) followed by triploidy (62 cases, 16%), monosomies (41 cases, 10.6%) and tetraploidy (17 cases, 4.4%). The single most common anomaly observed was trisomy 16 (73 cases, 18.8%). The frequency of trisomies, with the exception trisomy 16, was related with advanced maternal age.

Subtipos del virus de la hepatitis C en San Andres Isla / Hepatitis C virus subtypes in San Andres Island: preliminary report

Se estudiaron muestras de sangre de diferentes grupos Sanandresanos, residentes en Bogotá y en la isla para anti-VHC, sus subtipos y anticuerpos anti-Dengue. De las 44 muestras correspondientes a miembros delpersonal de salud del ISS residentes en San Andrés Isla(SAI), ninguna se encontró positiva para VHC. Se encontraron 3/44(6.8) positivas para anti-dengueIgM y 29/66>(65.9)para anti-dengue IgG. De 50 muestras correspondientes a sanandresanos residentes en Bogotá, se encontraron 2/60(4) que fueron doblemente reactivas por el ELISA de Murex (Core y una región no estructural). Una de ellas SAI-45, se encontro reactiva para NS3 y se definió como subtipo 3;la otra, SAI2 se encontró con señal positiva para NS4 y NS5 y fue no tipificable.

Evaluación en muestras Colombianas, de posibles interferencias por anticuerpos IGM en la prueba cubana UMELISA-DENGUE IGM / Evaluation of Colombian simples of posible interferences by IGM antibodies by UMELISA-DENGUE IGM test: preliminary report

Se estudiaron, por UMELISA dengue-IGM, un total de 366 muestras de suero procedentes de cuatro de las cinco regiones naturales de Colombia, que conformaron un panel de 116 positivos para anticuerpos contra el virus del dengue y otro de 250 negativos. De las muestras positivas, 71 habían sido procesadas previamente por UMELISA dengue-IGM en distintos laboratorios del país y se habían informado como positivas; 45 tenían altos títulos de anticuerpos por inhibición de la hemoaglutinación para los serotipos 1, 2, 3 y 4 del virus del dengue. De estas muestras 111 fueron nuevamente positivas y hubo 5 discrepancias (3 negativos, 2 bordeline). Así se estableció una sensibilidad del 95.7 y una reproductividad del 92.96. En el panel de 250 muestras negativas, 135 tenían anticuerpos de tipo G y M para toxmoplasma , rubéola, citomegalovirus, Herpes 1 y 2, Malaria por P.vivax y falciparum y HBsAg positivo; a los otros 115 eran muestras frescas de donantes sanos de sangre , sin antígenos ni anticuerpos . En estas muestras 240 fueron negativas y se presentaron 10 discrepancias (6 positivos y 4 bordeline). Así establecio una especificidad del 96.0. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la prueba de UMELISA dengue IGM, es sensible y específica en muestras positivas y negativas con <> Colombianas y tiene una buena reproductibilidad. Las discrepancias encontradas, podrían deberse a la presencia de anticuerpos contra antígenos de arbovirus similares al del dengue y que circulan actualmente en Colombia.

Imaging the effects of diabetes on the genitourinary system.

Diabetes mellitus is a common multisystemic disease with serious effects on the genitourinary system. In the radiology literature, little attention has been paid to developing an integral approach to imaging of the genitourinary tract in diabetes. The long-term effects of diabetes on the genitourinary system include diabetic nephropathy, papillary necrosis, renal artery stenosis, diabetic cystopathy, and vas deferens calcification. Diabetes-associated urinary tract infections include renal and perirenal abscesses, gas-forming infections such as emphysematous pyelonephritis and emphysematous cystitis, fungal infections, and xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. Diabetes-associated genital infections include Fournier gangrene and postmenopausal tubo-ovarian abscess. In a diabetic with fever of unknown origin or in the event of a persistent infection in a diabetic with clinical deterioration despite use of antibiotics, radiologic studies can demonstrate the presence of genitourinary complications. Finally, radiologists should be aware of the risk of contrast material-induced nephropathy in diabetics.

[Acquirement of the Spanish vocabulary among rural and urban students of the 9th region]. / Adquisición del vocabulario castellano entre escolares rurales y urbanos de la novena región.

In order to test the assumption that rural children from the Araucanía region at southern Chile start school with significant handicaps in the acquirement of the spanish vocabulary when compared with their urban peers, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT, spanish version) was used to compare a first group including all those children attending third grade at a public school from a low socio economic level neighborhood of the city of Temuco, Chile (n = 44, age average 9.01 years, s = 0.51) against a second group including all those children attending the same grade at three public schools from the rural areas surrounding the same city (n = 37, age average 9.07 years, s = 0.52). Previously, 19 children aged 3 to 5 years were tested both with the PPVT and with the chilean instrument for the measurement of development at the age group (TEPSI). Both scores show a positive correlation (r = 0.64, p = 0.05). Average scores for the PPVT among rural children were lower than among urban children (64.07, s = 11.36 against 103.05, s = 10.99, p = less than 0.01). In a second stage, 39 children attending 7th grade at the urban school (age average 13.61 years, s = 0.64) and 27 children of the same grade from the rural schools (age average 13.69 years, s = 0.69) were tested with the same instrument.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Early stimulation: 10 years' experience]. / Estimulación temprana: diez años de experiencia.

Infancy psychomotor yield in lower socioeconomic levels can be damaged from the first year of life. This implies future consequences to individuals, family-and society. Early stimulation programs have demonstrated to improve psychomotor yield in the above mentioned children. In Temuco, Chile, in groups of children with different risks, that were incorporated to an early stimulation program, it has been seen that the lower the birth weight the greater the risk of future psychomotor deterioration, which is also true for children that survived neonatal meningitis. On the other hand, in children that presented hyperbilirubinemia, low Apgar scores and neonatal septicemia, no significant statistical differences in psychomotor development have been observed in comparison with those of similar birthweight but without these antecedents. In this study the Chilean Health Ministry's Evaluation and Psychomotor Stimulation Program is reviewed as to adapt it for children at greatest risk.

Early experience influences adult retention of aversively motivated tasks in normal, but not DSP4-treated rats.

Sprague-Dawley rat pups were injected with DSP4 or water within 48 hr of birth and tested as adults in an inhibitory avoidance task and in a Y-maze discrimination reversal task. Half of the animals were also tested as juveniles during postnatal weeks 4-5, in tasks assessing odor preferences and general investigatory behavior. Controls, but not drug-treated adults, which received the juvenile testing, showed significantly better retention on both tasks than either controls or drug-treated animals not tested as juveniles. Neonatal DSP4 significantly reduced norepinephrine concentrations in the hippocampus and frontal cortex, but not the heart. The results suggest that central norepinephrine may modulate the effects of early experience on adult learning.