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Background: According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, suicide is one of the five leading causes of death among people aged l5-24 years. Suicide rates in Chile among young people have been increasing. In 1990 and 2005, the prevalence of suicide was 8.8% and 9.3% per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively., Aims: To determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt rates among teenagers aged 14 and 19 years, living in Metropolitan Santiago and analyze the factors related to suicide., Material and Methods: A self administered enquiry, containing a depression scale and five questions about suicide tendency, was applied to a representative sample of teenagers aged between 14 and 19 years, attending public and private schools in Metropolitan Santiago., Results: The enquiry was answered by 1567 teenagers aged between 14 and 20 years (54% males). Sixty two percent recognized suicidal ideation and 19%, suicidal attempts. These figures were significantly higher among women and those attending public schools. Sixteen years old adolescents had the highest rates of suicidal ideation and attempts., Conclusions: There is a high rate of suicidal ideation and attempts among teenagers living in Metropolitan Santiago.

Objective: To obtain an initial assessment of the implantation technique of bifurcated vascular endoprothesis in the treatment of abdominal aorta aneurysms (AAA)., Methods: Eleven Vanguard type endoprostheses were implanted in eleven patients with infra-renal aortic aneurysm. The technique was performed with surgical approach in one femoral artery, and percutaneously in the other. The procedure was performed with epidural anesthesia., Results: A technical success--i.e., the exclusion of the aneurysm--was obtained in all cases. No technical complications occurred during the procedure. Three patients had low degree contrast leak in the angiographic control immediately after the procedure. Eight patients had low grade fever in the immediate follow-up which resolved with medical therapy, two patients had hematomas in the approach sites, one renal infarction, one ileus for two days, another one for five days, and three patients had lymphatic effusion. During follow-up the patients with leak had to undergo co-axial endoprosthesis implantation., Conclusions: It is our view that bifurcated vascular endoprostheses offer a valid alternative in the treatment of AAA. The procedure can be performed with epidural anesthesia and sedation, with a low rate of complications. The long term follow-up and the perfecting of the approach and resection systems will ultimately dictate their usefulness in this and other vascular conditions.

The case of a 60-year-old patient who was repeatedly admitted for ascitic decompensation secondary to hyperflow portal hypertension provoked by congenital arteriovenous malformation of the superior mesenteric artery is presented. Diagnosis was performed by arteriography. Surgical treatment was conducted with total resection of the malformation thereby achieving complete resolution and normalization of portal pressure. The literature is reviewed and the pathophysiologic mechanism as well as the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment are discussed.

Eight German Shepherd pups, about 75 days old and a live weight of 11 kg at the beginning of the trial, were used to assay a diet formulated according to NRC, 1985 (Nutrient Requirements of Dogs). The diet was administered either pelletized (PD) or extruded (ED). Acceptability was evaluated through a cafeteria test, and diet utilization by a digestion trial, wherein dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), crude fiber (CF), nitrogen-free extract (NFE), energy (E), Ca and P were considered. At the beginning and at the end of the digestibility trial, venous blood samples were obtained to run biochemical profiles. Results of the cafeteria test showed that extrusion-cooking improved significantly (P greater than 0.01) diet consumption, which for the ED was 512 and for the PD, 253 g/animal/day. Extrusion also improved significantly (P less than 0.01), the digestibility of DM, CP, EE, NFE and E, reaching values of 82.6, 75.2, 83.9, 90.8 and 83.6% for ED, and 68.0, 64.6, 76.7, 73.5 and 69.7 for PD, respectively. For CF, Ca and P, there was no effect (P greater than 0.05) of extrusion over digestibility. The biochemical profiles, only exhibited minor changes, all figures being considered within the normal range for puppies. It is concluded that extrusion-cooking significantly improves acceptability and biological utilization of normal diets for dogs.

Forty-five marasmic infants were studied for plasma zinc and copper levels. They were selected from those children admitted to a nutritional recovery center. The mean plasma zinc level was 92.4 +/- 24 micrograms/dl (mean +/- SD); 7% of the infants had low zinc values as defined by zinc less than 70 micrograms/dl. Median copper was 90 micrograms/dl (range 27-172) and 49% of the children had copper levels below 90 micrograms/dl (established as our normal limit). Birth weight, breast feeding and prior hospitalization for acute diarrhea with dehydration were studied as antecedents related to low Cu and Zn. Children with prior diagnosis of acute diarrhea and hospitalization had lower copper levels than those sent from primary care centers. Breast feeding was associated with higher Cu levels. No relationship was found between zinc levels and those antecedents, but differences were found in regard to the degree of malnutrition, season of the year and Zn status. In this investigation no Zn deficiency was found in marasmus cases. Hypocupremia, however, is a very significant problem in marasmic infants, especially when associated with early weaning and the presence of previous hospitalization for acute diarrhea.