Combined effect of temperature and nutritional regime on the elimination of the lipophilic toxin okadaic acid in the naturally contaminated wedge shell Donax trunculus.

The influence of nutritional regime and water temperature on depuration rates of OA-group toxins in the wedge shell Donax trunculus was examined by exposing naturally contaminated specimens to three nutritional regimes (microalgae, commercial paste of microalgae, and starvation) for 14 days at 16 °C and 20 °C. Total OA was quantified in the whole soft tissues of the individuals collected in days 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14. Mortality, dry weight, condition index, gross biochemical composition and gametogenic stages were surveyed. Low variation of glycogen and carbohydrates during the experiments suggest that wedge shells were under non-dramatic stress conditions. Wedge shells fed with non-toxic diets showed similar depuration rates being 15 and 38% higher than in starvation, at 16 and 20 °C, respectively. Depuration rates under non-toxic diets at 20 °C were 71% higher than at 16 °C. These results highlight the influence of water temperature on the depuration rate of total OA accumulated by D. trunculus, even when the increase is of only 4 °C, as commonly observed in week time scales in the southern Portuguese coastal waters. These results open the possibility of a faster release of OA in harvested wedge shells translocated to depuration systems when under a slight increase of water temperature.

Aplicación de la evaluación geriátrica integral en los problemas sociales de adultos mayores / Use of inteegrated geriatric assessment for social problems in the elderly

Introducción: Con los avances en la medicina cada vez mas personas se incorporan a un segmento social creciente denominado ôdel adulto mayorõ. Por ello la salud del adulto mayor constituye un tema de estudio de suma importancia social. Objetivo: determinar los problemas sociales y las características geriátricas asociadas en adultos mayores. Material y método: estudio descriptivo transversal, en el que se entrevistó a 154 personas mayores de 60 años que acudieron a una campaña de salud y control metabólico en septiembre del 2005 en el Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen, organizada por el Servicio de Geriatría. Resultados: la edad promedio fue 72,1 mayor o menor que 8 años (60 a 91 años), siendo 59,7 por ciento mujeres (92 personas). Se encontró criterios diagnósticos de síndrome de caídas en 48,1 por ciento del total; incontinencia de orina de cualquier causa en 40,3 por ciento; dismovilidad de cualquier grado en 6,5 por ciento, y deterioro cognitivo leve a mayor en 63,6 por ciento. Cumplieron al menos un criterio de fragilidad y se catalogó como frágil a 74 personas (48,1 por ciento). Mediante el test de Gijón modificado por la Universidad Cayetano Heredia, se determinó que 49,4 por ciento de los entrevistados tenía riesgo y/o problema social, identificando a 12 personas (7,8 por ciento) con diagnóstico de problema social. El 11,7 por ciento vive con el cónyuge de similar edad, y el 8,7 por ciento vive solo o los hijos están alejados. El 50,7 por ciento tiene solo una pensión mínima contributoria o carece de pensión; mientras que el 9,1 por ciento tiene una vivienda húmeda, incompleta o inadecuada. Respecto a las redes sociales, el 29,9 por ciento tiene relación solo con la familia y no sale del domicilio, mientras que el 28,6 por ciento es requeriente de cuidados residenciales o cuidados permanentes. Conclusión: La evaluación geriátrica integral (EGI) es importante en el estudio completo del anciano a todo nivel de atención.

Introduction: With recent avances in medical care available there is an increasing number of persons included in the so called æadvanced age groupÆ or æelderlyÆ. For this reason, the health of the elderly is now a very important topic to be studied from a social point of view. Objective: To determine social problems prevalent in the elderly. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed by interviewing 154 persons more than 60 years old who came to a health and metabolic control campaign organized by the Geriatrics Service in September 2005 in Guillarmo Almenara-Irigoyen National Hospital. Results: The average age of participants was 72,1 more less 8 years (range: 60 to 91 years), and 59,7 (92) were female. Diagnosis criteria for æease of falling syndromeÆ were found in 48,1 per cent of participants, urinary incontinence of any cause in 40,3 per cent, dismotility in 6.5 per cent, and mild to major cognitive impairment in 63,6 per cent. Seventy-four (48,1 per cent) persons had at least one major criterion for defining frailty and were classified as being frail. Using the Gijon test modified by Cayetano Heredia University, we found that 49,4 per cent of interviewed persons had social risk sand/or problems, and 12 persons (7,8 per cent) were identified as having social problems. Nearly one of nine (11,5 per cent) of interviewees live with a similarly aged spouse, and 8,7 per cent live on their own, or their children have move away form the parental home. Half of the participants (50,7 per cent) receive a minimal monthly allowance (from retirement public funds) or do not receive any income, 9,1 per cent have their house in poor conditions (humid environment, incomplete building, or inadequately built). With respectto social networks, 29,9 per cent have established relationthips only with the irrelatives, and do not get out of their home, while 28,6 per cent require in-housecare or permanent care.