A new species of the catfish genus Cordylancistrus (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

As a part of an assessment of loricariid catfishes inhabiting the Andes of Colombia, specimens belonging to an interesting new species were identified. The new species is described herein, and it is tentatively included in the genus Cordylancistrus. The new species can be easily distinguished among its congeners by the presence of a unique diagnostic character: a fleshy keel or excrescence, black or dark brown, over the posterior tip of supraoccipital. Specimens of the new species were captured in rivers of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Sierra de Perijá that drain to the Magdalena River Basin and Caribbean Sea. The occurrence of one species of Cordylancistrus in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta could have interesting biogeographic implications for hypotheses related to the geological history of northwestern corner of South America or to the dispersal or vicariance models used to explain biogeographical patterns of related species in Colombia.

Reduction of mortality, morbidity, and respiratory distress syndrome in infants weighing less than 1,000 grams by treatment with betamethasone and ritodrine.

The efficacy of betamethasone has been questioned in infants of less than 28 week's gestation. From January 1983 to June 1986, 86 infants weighing 600 to 1,000 g were born at our center. Control of labor was attempted with ritodrine in all patients with less than or equal to 5 cm cervical dilation. If control were obtained, betamethasone was given 30 minutes later. Significant differences were found between the 33 infants born after 24 hours of betamethasone and those delivered before in terms of survival 90.1% v 56.6% (P = .001), respiratory distress syndrome 27.2% v 73.6% (P = .0001), and need for intermittent positive pressure ventilation 42.4% v 81.1% (P = .0005). The average hospital stay for beta-treated infants was 82 days v 99 days for nontreated infants. The average exposure to O2 after betamethasone was 12.7 days v 20.2 days, (P = .01), although need for intermittent positive pressure ventilation was similar (23 days) in the two groups. In infants who survived greater than 48 hours, the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus in the beta-group was 18.8% (6/32) v 44.4% (16/36) in the nontreated group (P = .04). Our data suggest that in infants weighing less than 1,000 g, control of labor with ritodrine for a minimum of 24 hours and administration of betamethasone can reduce significantly not only the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome but also mortality and morbidity.

International developments in behavior therapy in Latin America.

The development of behaviour therapy in Latin America is presented, beginning with the work of Keller and Bijou in Brazil and Mexico respectively. In the decade of the 70's the experimental analysis of behaviour and interventions to change undesired behavior were considered scientific and professional alternatives to psychoanalysis. Psychologists trained in objective methodology began work on clinical problems, and were followed by psychiatrists not satisfied with traditional approaches. Today behavior therapy and behavior modifications are known and practiced in the majority of the Latin American countries. Important basic research is in progress.

[Psychology as a science and as a profession in Colombia]. / La psicología como ciencia y como profesión en Colombia

In Colombia, Psychology started associated with Medicine and Education. In a more strict sense, it begins with the founding of the Institute of Applied Psychology at the National University of Colombia, in 1948. This is one of the oldest training centers for Psychologists in Latin America, without interruption until today. The areas of outstanding professional interest are Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Social Psychology. The main research areas are the experimental analysis of behavior, and Social Psychology. There is a professional association the Colombia Federation of Psychology, that has defined the roles and fields of competence of Psychologists, and established the training requirements (5 years, including practical field work and experience and a thesis), to obtain a degree of Psychologist. All Faculties and Departments of Psychology in the country follow the same curricular and requirements model.

[Homosexuality in Colombia]. / La homosexualidad en Colombia.

Homosexuality in Colombia is studied from a psychological point of view. Data are presented concerning proportion of homosexual population in several cities. An investigation of the psychological aspects of homosexuals is described, based on a sample of 100 male homosexuals (ages 18 to 52) from Bogota. Adjustment and adaptation, depression, social life, relations with heterosexuals, with others homosexuals, and general life style, were among the factors investigated. Finally the legal aspects and gay liberation are presented.

Rheological properties of excised rabbit lung stiffened by repeated hyperinflation.

Two rheological properties, stress adpatation (S) and hysteresis loop area (H), were studied in normal fresh rabbit lungs and in lungs stiffened by 3 hr repeated inflation at zero end-expiratory pressure. S was measured on the deflation limb at various volume levels ranging from 100 to 25% total lung capacity (TLC). H was obtained in another group of lungs before and after stiffening, for tidal volumes ranging from 5 to 30% TLC, at end-expiratory levels from 25 to 70% TLC. In stiff lung, S after deflation from TLC was biphasic (initial pressure rise, then a fall) whenever the starting pressure exceeded approximately 10 cmH2O. At low lung volumes (25% TLC) stress rose monotonically toward 10 cmH2O. Only monontonic adaptation has previously been reported for normal lung. Tidal H in stiff lungs was increased at all volume levels, occupying roughly 20% of a bounding pressure-volume rectangle, resembling that of normal lungs near TLC but twice that of normal loops at lower volumes. The results suggest that above an equilibrium or transition pressure around 10 cmH2O the alveolar lining in stiff lung may have film properties more resembling those of a viscous liquid, becoming solidlike below this pressure. Similar viscous liquid properties appear to exist on the inflation limb of normal lungs, and near TLC on their deflation limb.

Temperature and hydration: factor affecting increased recoil of excised rabbit lung.

We have examined two factors which strongly affect the rate and amount by which excised rabbit lungs become stiffer during mechanical hyperventilation, Pressure-volume (PV) curves were compared before and after 3 hr ventilation (tidal volume 50% TLC, frequency 8/min, end-expiratory pressure of zero) in the temperature range 4 degrees C to 37 degrees C. Lungs were separated into three groups according to method of suspension: (A) floated on saline, (B) floated on mineral oil, and (C) suspended from the trachea. Lung wet/dry weight ratios (W/D) were obtained from groups A and C. In all lungs marked stiffening occurred below 22 degrees C, but the effect diminished sharply between 22 and 28 degrees C. Lungs not in contact with saline (Groups B and C) revealed little change in recoil above 28 degrees C, whereas those in Group A once again tended to become stiff near 37 degrees C. Lung water content in Group A at 37 degrees C was found to be more than double that in Group C. We conclude that two factors can contribute to the stiffening induced by ventilation: (a) temperature maintained below 27-28 degrees C, or (b) excess lung water in combination with temperature above 28 degrees C.

El diagnóstico de alcoholismo en estudiantes de medicina un enfoque transhispanoamericano: México, Colombia, Perú (Lima y Cuzco) y Ecuador / Diagnosis of alcoholismo in students of medicine: A transhispanic-american approach: México, Colombia, Perú (Lima and Cuzco) and Ecuador

Mediante el inventario de evaluación sussmilch (IES), previamente validado y confiabilizado, se estableció una diferencia significativa entre la teoría y la realidad de la calidad de la información publicada (1967-1999). Esto señala que esos resultados no pueden generalizarse ni dentro ni fuera de las muestras de estudiantes, también de medicina. En contraste, con base en el principio de que resultados negativos también son resultados, en este ejercicio de demostró empíricamente que los resultados obtenidos representan bien a las muestras de estudiantes que fueron admitidos a cinco facultades de medicina hispanoamericana (FMH). Se desarrolló el indice de alcoholismo de pregrado (IAPG) integrado por cuatro (ó cinco) reactivos con respuestas dicotómicas, capaces de discernir, con error conocido, entre estudiantes de medicina no-alcohólicos (NOH), sospechosos (SOH) y alcohólicos (OH). El perfil psicométrico del IAPG exhibió una equivalente entre las Facultades de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNC), Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia(UPCH), universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cuzco (UNSAAC) y Universidad de Cuenca(UC).