Effects of palatal augmentation prosthesis in oropharyngeal dysphagia in Chilean patients with tongue cancer: Cases report

ABSTRACT: Therapy of malignant neoplasms of the tongue or oropharynx may cause dysphagia. Dysphagia in patients has negative significant social and psychological consequences. The six cases reports describe the effect of palatal augmentation prosthesis (PAP) on the management of dysphagia in patients with oral-pharyngeal cancer and as consequence of its treatment. The study also assesses PAP's effects on the quality of life of such patients.

Serological based monitoring of a cohort of patients with chronic Chagas disease treated with benznidazole in a highly endemic area of northern Argentina

This study aimed to evaluate well-documented diagnostic antigens, named B13, 1F8 and JL7 recombinant proteins, as potential markers of seroconversion in treated chagasic patients. Prospective study, involving 203 patients treated with benznidazole, was conducted from endemic areas of northern Argentina. Follow-up was possible in 107 out of them and blood samples were taken for serology and PCR assays before and 2, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after treatment initiation. Reactivity against Trypanosoma cruzi lysate and recombinant antigens was measured by ELISA. The rate of decrease of antibody titers showed nonlinear kinetics with an abrupt drop within the first three months after initiation of treatment for all studied antigens, followed by a plateau displaying a low decay until the end of follow-up. At this point, anti-B13, anti-1F8 and anti-JL7 titers were relatively close to the cut-off line, while anti-T. cruzi antibodies still remained positive. At baseline, 60.8% (45/74) of analysed patients tested positive for parasite DNA by PCR and during the follow-up period in 34 out of 45 positive samples (75.5%) could not be detected T. cruzi DNA. Our results suggest that these antigens might be useful as early markers for monitoring antiparasitic treatment in chronic Chagas disease.

Malnutrición del adulto mayor y factores asociados en el distrito de Masma Chicche, Junín, Perú / Malnutrition and associated factors in the elder population of Masma Chicche, Junin, Peru

Objetivo: Determinar el estado nutricional y los factores asociados a malnutrición en el adulto mayor en la comunidad de Masma Chicche, Junín. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en personas mayores de 60 años distrito de Masma Chicche, Junín, Perú. Se utilizó el Mini Nutritional Assesment (MNA) para la evaluación nutricional e instrumentos de valoración geriátrica integral para establecer la presencia de depresión (Yesavage), estado funcional (Katz), deterioro cognitivo (Pfeiffer), salud oral (GOHA) y estado social (Guijon). Se realizó estadística descriptiva, chi cuadrado y ANOVA para determinar asociación entre las variables. Se consideró un p < 0,05 como significativo. Resultados: Se encuestaron a 72 personas. La prevalencia de malnutrición fue 29,9%; 57,9% en riesgo de malnutrición. El 69,4% presentaban depresión y riesgo de la misma; 27,8% mostró deterioro cognitivo; 93,1% presentaba percepción negativa de su salud oral; 51,4% eran dependientes funcionales y el 100% poseía algún problema social. Se encontró asociación de malnutrición con las variables, sexo masculino y presencia de depresión. Conclusiones: En la comunidad de Masma Chicche, alrededor de la tercera parte de la población tiene malnutrición la que está asociada con el sexo masculino y la presencia de depresión.

Objective: Determine the nutritional status and factors associated to malnutrition in the elder population of Masma Chicche, Junin. Methods: Cross-sectional study in persons above 60 years of age in the district of Masma Chicche, Junin. The nutritional evaluation was performed using the mini nutritional assessment method (MNA); depression was evaluated using an integral geriatric valoration scale (Yesavage); functional status was evaluated using the Katz´s method; cognitive deterioration was measured by the Pfeiffer´s method; oral health was evaluated by the GOHA´s method and social status by the Guijon´s method. Descriptive statistics, Chi square and ANOVA tests were used to contrast variables, a p value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: 72 elder persons were evaluated; the prevalence of malnutrition was 29.9%; 57.9% were at risk for malnutrition. Prevalence of depression was 69.4%; 27.8% had cognitive deterioration; 93.1% had negative perception of their oral health; 51.4% were functionally dependant and 100% had any kind of social problem. Malnutrition was associated with age, male gender and depression. Conclusions: Almost one third of the elder population of Masma Chicche has malnutrition, which is associated with male gender and depression.

Relación entre la edad de la aparición de la menarquia y el nivel socieconomico de las ninas dominicanas

Estudiamos la relación entre la edad de aparición de la menarquia y el nivel socioeconómico en una muestra de 2,700 niñas a nviel nacional. La edad promedio de la menarquia obtenida es de 12.5 años para la población urbana y 13.1 años para la rural; deducimos que el factor socioeconómico es una variable determinante en a edad de aparición de la menarquia