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Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods that parasitize most groups of terrestrial or semiaquatic vertebrates. Humans are accidental hosts to the ticks; however, in humans the ticks can cause damages varying from simple irritation to severe allergies, toxicosis, paralysis, and the transmission of pathogens, some of which can be fatal. Central America represents a narrow isthmus between North and South America and is considered a biodiversity hotspot. The importance of tick-borne diseases in this region is manifested by fatal outbreaks caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, severe and mild cases of other rickettsioses, ehrlichiosis, and tick-borne relapsing fevers, in addition to cases paralysis and strong allergic reactions. Even so, this information is scarce in most countries of this region, and there are no epidemiological data. In this article we present a review of the ticks that parasitize humans in Central America, covering data from the 19th Century to the present day. Of nearly 80 tick species reported in Central America, 28 species are reported on humans. This list includes species that thrive within homes, grazing areas and, to a lesser extent, in wild environments, both in lowland and high mountain forests. The most important genus in this region is Amblyomma, followed by Rhipicephalus and Ornithodoros, and to a lesser extent Haemaphysalis, Ixodes and Dermacentor. These data provide information on the tick species most commonly associated with humans in Central America, and highlight the potential for tick-borne diseases in wild, rural and urban regions.

As técnicas conservacionistas são altamente relevantes para o uso sustentável do solo, especialmente em regiões do semiárido. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o impacto de técnicas conservacionistas na redução das perdas de sedimentos e no incremento da umidade do solo, utilizando parcelas sob chuva natural. O estudo foi realizado na Bacia do Rio Alto Ipanema, Brasil. O monitoramento experimental foi realizado em nove parcelas com diferentes condições de cobertura (solodescoberto; cobertura natural; cobertura morta; Palma Forrageira). A cobertura morta apresentoudesempenho semelhante à cobertura vegetal arbórea natural, para controle de escoamento e perdasde sedimentos. A umidade do solo foi signifi cativamente maior nas parcelas com cobertura mortado que nas parcelas de solo descoberto. Adicionalmente, as linhas de Palma produziram resultadoshidrológicos promissores. Experimentos complementares em laboratório, com chuvas simuladas,apresentaram resultados consistentes com as observações em campo, sob chuva natural. Conservation techniques are highly relevant, for sustainable land use, especially in semiaridregions. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of conservation techniques in reducing sediment losses and increasing soil moisture, under natural rainfall in soil erosion plots. Thestudy was carried out in the Alto Ipanema River Basin, Brazil. The experimental monitoring wascarried out in nine plots with different cover conditions (bare soil; natural cover; mulch; ForragePalm Cactus). Mulch presented similar performance than natural vegetation cover, to control runoffand sediment losses. Soil moisture was signifi cantly higher in plots with mulch when comparedwith in those with bare soil. Additionally, Palma lines produced promising hydrological results.Complementary experiments in the laboratory, with simulated rainfall, were consistent with fieldobservations under natural events.

RESUMEN Antecedentes: Estudios recientes refieren que los pacientes con dolor crónico sufren cambios en el procesamiento de la información que les llega desde la periferia con el solo hecho de cambiar el orden en que los estímulos les son ejercidos, por ejemplo, cuando se les cruzan las manos. En los pacientes con dolor crónico se ha demostrado la presencia de alteraciones en sus marcos de referencia somatotópicos, y es por esto que la estrategia de cruzar las extremidades por la línea media, podría generar cambios en la percepción dolorosa. Objetivo: Evaluar si un programa de fisioterapia analgésica aplicada con cruce de manos es más eficaz que uno sin el cruce para disminuir el dolor. Material y método: 16 pacientes con dolor crónico de codo, muñeca o mano ingresaron al estudio. Fueron aleatorizados en un grupo experimental, que recibió la aplicación de electroanalgesia nerviosa transcutánea (TENS) con cruce de manos y ojos cerrados, además de un grupo control, que recibió solo electroanalgesia. A cada grupo se les evaluó su dolor pre y postintervención, con el cuestionario del dolor de McGill y la escala visual análoga (EVA). Resultados: Ambos grupos, el control y experimental, presentaron una disminución en el dolor postintervención; el grupo control disminuyó una media de 3,5 cm y el grupo experimental con una media de 3,75 cm. Todas las sesiones del grupo experimental fueron estadísticamente significativas (p < 0,05), mientras que el grupo control presentó una sesión no estadísticamente significativa (p = 0,051). El análisis de varianza (ANOVA) entre ambos grupos, sin embargo, no dio estadísticamente significativo (p = 0,863). Conclusiones: Los resultados no evidencian convincentemente que el cruce de manos potencia los efectos de la terapia analgésica en relación con la intensidad dolorosa. Más estudios serían necesarios para incluir esta técnica como una estrategia de apoyo en pacientes con dolor crónico, y poder manejar así las alteraciones sensoperceptivas y los cambios en el procesamiento de la información que les llega de la periferia. ABSTRACT Background: Recent studies report that patients with chronic pain, they undergo changes in the processing of information that reaches them from the periphery with the mere fact of changing the order in which the stimuli are exercised, for example, when their hands are crossed. In patients with chronic pain, the presence of alterations in their somatotropic frames of reference has been demonstrated, and this is why the strategy of crossing the extremities through the midline could generate changes in the perception of pain. Objective: To evaluate if an analgesic physiotherapy program with hand crossing technique is more effective than a program without crossing hands, in order to reduce pain. Material and method: Sixteen patients with chronic pain in elbow, wrist or hand, were randomized in two groups. One received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with hand crossing and closed eyes, and the other (control group) received only the application of TENS. Each group was evaluated before and after the intervention with the McGill pain questionnaire and the visual analog scale (VAS). Results: A decrease in post-intervention pain was observed in both groups; where the control group decreased an average of 3.5 cm and the experimental group 3.75 cm. All sessions of the experimental group were statistically significant (P =

Tick bites in humans are associated with the transmission of pathogens, anaphylactic shock, paralysis, and secondary infections. In this work we described six cases of tick bites in patients from Panama and Costa Rica. These bites were provoked for adults of Ornithodoros puertoricensis, Amblyomma cf. oblongoguttatum, Amblyomma ovale, and Ixodes cf. boliviensis, and a nymph of Amblyomma mixtum. The relationships of these species of ticks with the environment are explained. Among the reactions observed in the patients there are blisters, maculo-papular rash, granuloma, lymphadenopathy, and erythema migrans-like rash, but none referred symptoms compatible with an infectious disease. In the collected ticks a PCR battery was developed to rule out Borrelia, Rickettsia, Anaplasmataceae, and Coxiella diseases to the ticks from the cases 1, 2, 3 and 4, with negative results. Although no pathogen infections were evidenced, these finding indicate that the tick bites constitute a public health problem what goes unnoticed in many countries.

La Helvecia shallow lake (33°25’16’’S, 62°53’26’’W, 90 ha) is one of the few permanent aquatic environments that still exist in the “Bañados del Saladillo” (Córdoba, Argentina). During November 2011, a study of fish and limnological characterization was performed. Different active and passive gears were used and water quality variables were measured. Average values pH, oxygen concentration, temperature and water transparency (Secchi disk) were 8.63, 9.05 mg/L, 23.8 °C and 39 cm respectively. The shallow lake was classified as “turbid” type. The water was hypohaline (4.74 g/L), sulfated sodium chlorinated and very hard (298 ppm CaCO3). The macrozooplankton abundance was 240,850 org/m3. A total of nine species of fish, belonging to five orders and seven families were captured. Odontesthes bonariensis was the most abundant species (78.6%), while Cyprinus carpio was the species with most biomass (41.4%). Zooplankton (Cladocera and Copepdoda) was the main food of O. bonariensis. The principal finding was the presence of Parapimelodus valenciennis. The gradual and permanent changes that have occurred in the landscape of the region, with higher intensities of land use, may have been the main causes of the transformation of La Helvecia lake from clear to turbid, which favored the recreational fishery., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

La aparatología empleada en los tratamientos de ortodoncia, favorece la retención de placa bacteriana y dificulta su eliminación por parte del paciente, aumentando el riesgo de desarrollar caries, manchas blancas y enfermedad periodontal. Diferentes cepillos dentales se han desarrollado para facilitar la mantención de una adecuada higiene oral en estos pacientes, sin embargo, se ha observado que los cepillos comunmente indicados (cepillo ortodóncico mas cepillo unipenacho), no siempre son bien manejados y difícilmente se usan ambos. El cepillo Cross Action Pro-Salud®, se ha presentado como una alternativa simple de usar y de transportar, por ser un único cepillo que combina las caracteristicas de los dos cepillos comunmente recomendados. Para evaluar la efectividad de este cepillo, en comparación con la prescripción convencional, se evaluaron 2 grupos, de 23 pacientes cada uno, portadores de aparatología fija. Un grupo utilizó la prescripción habitual y un segundo grupo utilizó cepillo Cross Action Pro-Salud®, por un período de 45 días. Los indices de higiene de O`leary, de placa en brackets y gingival modificado fueron registrados al inicio y 45 días después del uso diario de los cepillos antes mencionados. Se utilizó test-t para comparar los resultados obtenidos y se determinó que se produjo una disminución significativa en los tres indices de higiene, no existiendo diferencias en los resultados obtenidos entre ambas prescripciones. El cepillo Oral-B Cross-Action Pro-Salud® es una alternativa recomendable, ya que permite eliminar efectivamente la placa bacteriana en pacientes ortodónticos, y al ser un único cepillo, facilita y acorta el tiempo de cepillado. Orthodontic fixed appliances include elements that allow the accumulation of bacterial plaque, making tooth brushing more difficult and increasing the risk of developing caries, white spot lesions, and periodontal disease. Several toothbrushes designs have been developed to facilitate oral hygiene in orthodontic patients; however, it has been observed that most patients do not take enough time to brush using adequately both commonly prescribed toothbrushes (Oral-B End-Tufted® and Oral-B Orthodontic® brushes). Oral B Cross Action Pro-Health® has been presented as an alternative, easier to use and to transport. To assess the effectiveness of Cross Action Pro-Health® versus commonly prescribed toothbrushes, two randomly assigned groups of 23 orthodontic patients each, were evaluated. One group of patients used commonly prescribed toothbrushes and the second group used Cross Action Pro-Health®. O`Leary, modified gingival and Bracket plaque index were measured before and 45 days after the daily use of the two mentioned toothbrushes prescriptions. T-test was used to detect statistically significant differences among the brushes for each index. The results demonstrated a significant reduction of the three indexes with the daily use of Cross Action Pro-Health® and no differences were found versus commonly used prescription. Orthodontic patients may benefit from the use of a single brush prescription (Cross Action Pro-Health®), because effective plaque removal can be achieved easier and faster.

Poultry is a main reservoir and source of human infection in campylobacteriosis. Three hundred and forty one stool samples (291 human, 50 avian) were analyzed. In the human group, 220 samples were collected from children with acute diarrheal disease (183 inpatients, 37 outpatients) and 71 from healthy children. Erythromycin and ciprofloxacin agar dilution MIC tests, Penner serotyping and RAPD-PCR genotyping were performed on 23 strains isolated. C. jejuni was reported only in patients with acute diarrhea (5.4% inpatients, 2.2% outpatients). Campylobacter prevalence in poultry was 34%. Cross-resistance to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin was found in 33.3% of human samples and 11.8% of animal samples. Human samples could not be typed using the Penner method. F serotype was the most expressed in poultry. We obtained a total of 14 genotypes (4 / 5 human and 10/15 avian). In conclusion, the predominant species in poultry and humans was C. jejuni, a significant amount of quinolone-resistant human and avian samples were obtained, and avian genotypes and serotypes were not found in human samples. The latter would mean that another source of infection could exist; therefore other reservoirs must be studied.

Las aves de consumo constituyen uno de los principales reservorios y fuente de infección humana de la campilo-bacteriosis. Se analizaron 341 muestras de deposiciones, 291 humanas y 50 aviares. De las muestras, 220 de niños con síndrome diarreico agudo-SDA (183 hospitalizados y 37 consultantes ambulatorios) y 71 niños sanos. A las 23 cepas obtenidas se les realizó CIM por dilución en agar a eritromicina y ciprofloxacina, serotipificación de Penner y genotipiicación por RAPD-PCR. Se encontró Campylobacterjejuni sólo en pacientes con SDA, de ellos 5,4% ambulatorios y 2,2% hospitalizados. En aves, la prevalencia de Campylobacter spp., fue de 34%. Hubo resistencia cruzada a ácido nalidixico y ciprofloxacina en 33,3% cepas de origen humano y 11,8% animal. Las cepas humanas fueron no tipiicables por el método de Penner. Predominó entre las aves el serotipo F. Se obtuvo un total de 14 genotipos (4/5 humanos y 10/15 aviares). En conclusión, la especie predominante en aves de corral y en humanos fue C. jejuni, existiendo una alta prevalencia de cepas de origen humano y aviar resistentes a quinolonas. Los genotipos y serotipos aviares no fueron encontrados en cepas de origen humano, lo que indica que podría existir otra fuente de infección, por lo que se requiere estudiar otros reservorios. Poultry is a main reservoir and source of human infection in campylobacteriosis. Three hundred and forty one stool samples (291 human, 50 avian) were analyzed. In the human group, 220 samples were collected from children with acute diarrheal disease (183 inpatients, 37 outpatients) and 71 from healthy children. Erythromycin and ciprofloxacin agar dilution MIC tests, Penner serotyping and RAPD-PCR genotyping were performed on 23 strains isolated. C. jejuni was reported only in patients with acute diarrhea (5.4% inpatients, 2.2% outpatients). Campylobacter prevalence in poultry was 34%. Cross-resistance to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin was found in 33.3% of human samples and 11.8% of animal samples. Human samples could not be typed using the Penner method. F serotype was the most expressed in poultry. We obtained a total of 14 genotypes (4 / 5 human and 10/15 avian). In conclusion, the predominant species in poultry and humans was C. jejuni, a significant amount of quinolone-resistant human and avian samples were obtained, and avian genotypes and serotypes were not found in human samples. The latter would mean that another source of infection could exist; therefore other reservoirs must be studied.

El fenómeno de la remodelación ósea es fundamental tanto para ortodoncia como para la ortopedia dentofacial. Esta revisión clínica es sobre la relación de la actividad ósea desencadenada por las fuerzas ortodóncicas con diversos factores, como factores propios de los pacientes, moléculas producidas por tejidos enfermos, o drogas y nutrientes consumidas regularmente por los pacientes, los que pueden alcanzar los tejidos periodontales mecánicamente estresados por las fuerzas ortodóncicas a través de la circulación sanguínea, interactuando así con células blanco que producen la remodelación ósea necesaria para el movimiento dentario ortodóncico. El efecto combinado de estas fuerzas mecánicas con alguno de estos agentes pueden ser inhibitorio, aditivo o sinérgico. El objetivo de esta revisión es describir los mecanismos de acción y los efectos de algunas de lasdrogas y otros factores sobre la remodelación del tejido óseo y el movimiento dentario ortodóncico. Bone remodeling is fundamental to orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.This clinically oriented overview relate bone responses to orthodontic forces with many factors. Molecules produced in various diseased tissues, or drugs and nutrients consumed regularly by patients, can reach the mechanically stressed paradental tissues through the circulation, and interact with local target cells. The combined effect of mechanical forces and one or more of these agents may be inhibitory, additive or synergistic. The objective of this review is to outline the mechanisms of action and effects of some commonly used drugs and other factors on tissue remodeling and orthodontic tooth movement.

The genotyping of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) will improve knowledge about the local epidemiological association of this virus with adenocarcinoma.To determine the frequency of HPV genotypes in biopsies of women with uterine cervical adenocarcinoma in a geographic region of Chile.Forty-one cervical biopsies with a pathological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, corresponding to all women diagnosed with this cancer between 2002 and 2004, were analyzed. Viral gene Ll was amplified by PCRfor viral detection. HPV genotyping was carried out by a Reverse Line Blot technique.Seventy one percent of biopsies were positive for HPV. The most common genotypes found were HPV 16 (61%), followed by HPV 18 (19.5%). Eighty seven percent of biopsies had a single HPV infection. Three patients had a multiple HPV infection. All of the latter were infected by HPV 16, associated with other three viral genotypes (45, 52 and 66). No low-risk HPV genotypes were found.In this sample of biopsies, there was a high prevelence of HPV 16 and a low prevalence of HPV 18, which historically has been related to adenocarcinoma. The genotypes found correspond to those described in South America.

Seventyone percent of biopsies were positive for HPV. The most common genotypes found were HPV 16(61%), followed by HPV 18 (19.5%). Eighty seven percent of biopsies had a single HPV infection.Three patients had a multiple HPV infection. All of the latter were infected by HPV 16, associatedwith other three viral genotypes (45, 52 and 66). No low-risk HPV genotypes were found.

Background: The genotyping of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) will improve knowledge about the local epidemiological association of this virus with adenocarcinoma. Aim: To determine the frequency of HPV genotypes in biopsies of women with uterine cervical adenocarcinoma in a geographic region of Chile. Materials and Methods: Forty-one cervical biopsies with a pathological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, corresponding to all women diagnosed with this cancer between 2002 and 2004, were analyzed. Viral gene Ll was amplified by PCRfor viral detection. HPV genotyping was carried out by a Reverse Line Blot technique. Results: Seventy one percent of biopsies were positive for HPV. The most common genotypes found were HPV 16 (61%), followed by HPV 18 (19.5%). Eighty seven percent of biopsies had a single HPV infection. Three patients had a multiple HPV infection. All of the latter were infected by HPV 16, associated with other three viral genotypes (45, 52 and 66). No low-risk HPV genotypes were found. Conclusions: In this sample of biopsies, there was a high prevelence of HPV 16 and a low prevalence of HPV 18, which historically has been related to adenocarcinoma. The genotypes found correspond to those described in South America.

Background: The genotyping of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) will improve knowledge about the local epidemiological association of this virus with adenocarcinoma. Aim: To determine the frequency of HPV genotypes in biopsies of women with uterine cervical adenocarcinoma in a geographic region of Chile. Materials and Methods: Forty-one cervical biopsies with a pathological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, corresponding to all women diagnosed with this cancer between 2002 and 2004, were analyzed. Viral gene Ll was amplified by PCRfor viral detection. HPV genotyping was carried out by a Reverse Line Blot technique. Results: Seventy one percent of biopsies were positive for HPV. The most common genotypes found were HPV 16 (61%), followed by HPV 18 (19.5%). Eighty seven percent of biopsies had a single HPV infection. Three patients had a multiple HPV infection. All of the latter were infected by HPV 16, associated with other three viral genotypes (45, 52 and 66). No low-risk HPV genotypes were found. Conclusions: In this sample of biopsies, there was a high prevelence of HPV 16 and a low prevalence of HPV 18, which historically has been related to adenocarcinoma. The genotypes found correspond to those described in South America.

DHA/NRE 2007 17 a 21 de Setembro de 2007

Background: Helicobacter pylori-associated gastroduodenal diseases depends on host characteristics, environmental conditions and bacterial virulence factors, such as cagA, vacA y babA2 gene products. Moreover, peptic ulcer disease has been related with cagA+, vacAs1m1 strains, while metaplasia and gastric cancer has been associated to cagA+, vacAs1 and babA2+ H pylori strains. Gene babA2 has not yet been described in clinical isolates from Chilean patients. Aim: To investigate the presence of cagA, vacA (s and m) and babA2 genes in clinical isolates of H pylori from Chilean patients. Material and Methods: Sixty six isolates from 41 patients were genotyped by PCR, using primers for s1a, s1b, s2, m1, m2, cagA and babA2 genes as previously described. Results: cagA gene was detected in 16 isolates (24.2%) while vacAs1a, vacAs1b, vacAs2, vacAm1 and vacAm2 were detected in 28 (42.4%), 14 (21.2%), 17 (25.8%), 21 (31.8%) and 29 isolates (43.9%), respectively. One isolate (1.5%) was babA2 positive, being the first isolate with this genotype described in Chile. Besides the babA2+ genotype this clinical isolate also presented cagA+ and vacAs1a which has been related with metaplasia or gastric cancer. Five isolates showed an ulcerogenic profile cagA+, vacAs1m1. Conclusions: The results presented indicate the prevalence of vacAs1m1 genotype among the clinical isolates analyzed, and a low frequency of babA2 genotype (Rev Méd Chile 2006; 134: 981-8).

Background: The DNA quality for the detection and typification of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) varies according to the type of sample in which it is studied. This may affect the sensitivity and specificity of the method employed. Aim: To study the yield and specificity of HPV detection and typification in uterine cervical samples obtained by cervical brushing fresh frozen and formalin fixed tissue. Material and methods: Cytological, fresh frozen and fixed tissue samples from 44 patients (nine with low grade lesions and 35 with high grade lesions) were studied. Nested polymerase chain reaction for genes E6/E7 was used to typify HPV groups as low risk or high risk. Results: Of all the cytological samples obtained by brushing 84% of fixed samples and 43% of fresh frozen samples were positive for HPV. The yields were significantly different when comparing brushing with fixed tissue or fresh frozen tissue and fixed tissue with fresh frozen tissue (p

Background: Uterine cervical cancer (UCC) is an important public health problem in Chile. Although HPV infection has been established as the main cause of UCC, little is known of its frequency and distribution in our population. Aim: To determine the presence and frequency of viral genotypes in uterine cervical specimens with preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions. Material and Methods: Two nested consensus PCRs followed by identification of amplified product by dot-blot hybridization and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were used to analyze 175 biopsies. Results: Detection of HPV was 40% in cases without histological lesion, 88% in low grade lesions, 89% in high grade lesions (HGL) and 93.5% in invasive carcinoma. Of all HPV positive cases, 89.5% were classified as high risk and only a 4.9% of HPV cases were of low risk type. Six percent of cases had multiple infections. Distribution of viral genotypes according to RFLP was: HPV33 (25.3%), 16 (18.7%), 52 (13.3%), 31 (12%), 35 (6.6%), 18 (2.7%). Conclusions: Most HPV found in biopsies with HGL and UCC were of high risk genotype. The elevated presence of high risk HPV in patients without cervical lesions may be a factor that explains the high percentage of UCC cases in our region. Most common viral types were: HPV16, 31, 33 and 52. Viral detection and typing may provide valuable information for patient selection and follow up and for allocation of resources (Rev Méd Chile 2003; 131: 1382-90).

Background: Uterine cervical cancer (UCC) is an important public health problem in Chile. Although HPV infection has been established as the main cause of UCC, little is known of its frequency and distribution in our population. Aim: To determine the presence and frequency of viral genotypes in uterine cervical specimens with preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions. Material and Methods: Two nested consensus PCRs followed by identification of amplified product by dot-blot hybridization and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were used to analyze 175 biopsies. Results: Detection of HPV was 40% in cases without histological lesion, 88% in low grade lesions, 89% in high grade lesions (HGL) and 93.5% in invasive carcinoma. Of all HPV positive cases, 89.5% were classified as high risk and only a 4.9% of HPV cases were of low risk type. Six percent of cases had multiple infections. Distribution of viral genotypes according to RFLP was: HPV33 (25.3%), 16 (18.7%), 52 (13.3%), 31 (12%), 35 (6.6%), 18 (2.7%). Conclusions: Most HPV found in biopsies with HGL and UCC were of high risk genotype. The elevated presence of high risk HPV in patients without cervical lesions may be a factor that explains the high percentage of UCC cases in our region. Most common viral types were: HPV16, 31, 33 and 52. Viral detection and typing may provide valuable information for patient selection and follow up and for allocation of resources (Rev Méd Chile 2003; 131: 1382-90).