Search

Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Dentoxol mouthrinse in reducing the severity of oral mucositis (OM) secondary to radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase II clinical trial was conducted. Subjects were asked to use Dentoxol (n = 55) or control (n = 53) mouthrinse 5 times/day during RT. Twice a week, OM was assessed clinically using the WHO scale and the Oral Mucositis Daily Questionnaire (OMDQ) was completed. Results The incidence of severe OM was 40.7% in the Dentoxol group and 51% in the control group (p = 0.265). Comparing all recorded clinical assessments, severe OM was seen in 13.3% of all assessments in the Dentoxol group vs. 21.8% in the control group (p = 0.000). There was a statistically significant lower proportion of assessments showing severe OM in the Dentoxol group at weeks 4, 5, and 6 of RT. The mean duration of severe OM was 11.95 days in the Dentoxol group vs. 14.59 days in the control group (p = 0.502). There was no difference between groups in mouth pain and its impact on function. The use of Dentoxol was safe and was not linked to any serious adverse events. Conclusion The use of Dentoxol 5 times/day is safe and resulted in significantly fewer time-points with severe OM and a delay in the onset of severe OM, compared with a control rinse. A phase III clinical trial is warranted to confirm efficacy and address the limitations of this study.

Atypical Fibroxanthoma is an unusual dermal mesenchymal tumor. It especially affects older adults and occurs in areas of sun exposure. We report a 75 years old male with a history of sun exposure without using a hat presenting with a scalp nodule. An incisional biopsy showed an atypical fibroxantoma. In a new surgical procedure, the tumor was completely excised. The tumor relapsed in two occasions after subsequent excisions and the patient was treated with adjuvant radiotherapy avoiding new relapses.

Background: Treatment of spine bone metastases with stereotactic radio-therapy (SBRT) may produce greater pain relief than palliative radiotherapy. Aim: To evaluate the analgesic response to SBRT. Material and Methods: A search was made in an electronic database of all patients treated by SBRT in our center. We found 20 patients that were treated with SBRT in the spine on 24 sites (lesions). Analgesic response was evaluated at 3 and 6 months after SBRT. Other factors such as age, sex, functional status, diagnosis, metastasis location, dosimetry and toxicity of the treatment were also described. Results: The median follow-up was 8.1 months. Complete pain relief occurred at three months in 74% of the treated sites. At three months, 78% of the patients presented a functional status 0 (ECOG). The median dose used was 24 Gy in 2 fractions. No cases of G3 or greater toxicity were recorded. Conclusions: The analgesic response to SBRT seems to be better than that reported for palliative radiotherapy.

RESUMEN El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar la influencia que ejercen las creencias y actitudes de los estudiantes de noveno grado hacia comportamientos pro-ambientales. Para ello se realizó una muestra no probabilística de colegios de gestión oficial del departamento Central de Paraguay, se aplicó un cuestionario con escala tipo Likert a 200 estudiantes de noveno grado, con ítems clasificados en creencias, actitudes y comportamientos. A partir de las respuestas se aplicó el análisis estadístico de chi-X2, donde se buscaba relacionar las creencias con actitudes y comportamientos sostenibles. Resultó que cuando se trata de creencias generales sobre la importancia del medio ambiente, no tienen implicancia en las actitudes y comportamientos ambientales responsables, sin embargo, cuando estas creencias son sobre cuestiones específicas, y claramente erradas, las consecuencias en acciones no acordes con la sostenibilidad del medio son claras. Por lo tanto, es importante repensar sobre la educación ambiental en Paraguay y plantearse estrategias de acción que implique el involucramiento y coordinación con los diferentes sectores de la sociedad. ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of belief and attitudes the ninth grade students toward pro-environmental behaviors. The data were collected from non-probabilistic sample from public school of the Central Department from Paraguay. We apply a Likert questionnaire to 200 students from ninth grade, sort out items such as beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. The methodology applied was the chi-square test where we want to relate the beliefs to attitudes and sustainable behaviors. The results suggest that general beliefs about the importance of environment they do not have implicance in attitudes and behaviors environmental, however, when the beliefs are specific, and clearly wrong, the consequences in the actions are not in lines with the sustainability of the environment are clear. Hence, is very important to rethink about Paraguay environmental education and arise actions strategy that implies the involvement and coordination with different sectors of society.

The use of hot pack is a common superficial thermotherapy strategy and one of its benefits is the increase of muscle flexibility. However, there is a lack of information about the effects of the heat pack alone, without being used in association with other therapeutic interventions, in the flexibility of the lumbar region. The aim of this study was to compare the effects generated by the application of three different pack on the flexibility of the lower backs of healthy students. Three sessions of 15 minutes of superficial heat through a hot pack (moist heat pack-MHP, seed pack-SP or gel pack-GP) were applied to the lower back. Pack and lower back temperatures and erythema were registered every 5 minutes. A Schober test was performed before the first session and after the third session. After 15 minutes of treatment, pack temperature was higher in the SP group. At the same time, lumbar temperature was lower in the GP group. The heat treatment also increased erythema in the lower back for all three groups. There was a significant increase in intragroup flexibility as assessed by the Schober Test for all groups. There are significant differences in the effect generated between the three types of pack on the flexibility of the lower back. The MHP was able to transfer more heat to the lumbar area and provided a more pronounced increase in the flexibility of lower back tissues. RESUMO O uso de compressas quentes é uma estratégia de termoterapia superficial amplamente utilizada e um de seus benefícios é o aumento da flexibilidade muscular. Porém, existem poucas informações sobre os efeitos das compressas quentes, quando não associadas a outras intervenções terapêuticas, na flexibilidade da região lombar. O objetivo do seguinte trabalho foi comparar os efeitos gerados pela aplicação de três tipos diferentes de compressas quentes na flexibilidade da região lombar de estudantes saudáveis. Três sessões de 15 minutos de calor superficial aplicado através de compressas quentes (compressa úmida quente, compressa de sementes e compressa de gel). A temperatura da compressa e da região lombar e a ocorrência de eritema foram registradas a cada 5 minutos. O teste de Schober foi realizado antes da primeira e após a última sessão. Após 15 minutos de tratamento, a compressa de sementes apresentou maior temperatura final. No mesmo período, a menor temperatura lombar foi obtida pela compressa de gel. O tratamento com os três tipos de compressa aumentou a ocorrência de eritema e causou aumento significativo da flexibilidade da região lombar avaliada pelo teste de Schober. Existem diferenças significativas no efeito gerado pelos três tipos de compressas quentes sobre a flexibilidade da região lombar. A compressa úmida quente proporcionou maior transferência de calor para a região lombar e propiciou um aumento mais pronunciado da flexibilidade da região lombar. RESUMEN El empleo de compresas calientes es muy utilizado por la termoterapia superficial como forma de aumentar la flexibilidad muscular. Pero son pocas las informaciones sobre sus efectos, cuando asociadas a otras intervenciones terapéuticas, en la flexibilidad de la región lumbar. Este estudio tiene el objeto de comparar los efectos de la aplicación de tres tipos distintos de compresas calientas en la flexibilidad de la región lumbar en estudiantes saludables. Fueron tres sesiones de quince minutos de calor superficial aplicadas a través de compresas calientes (compresa húmeda, compresa de semillas y compresa de gel) en la región lumbar de estos participantes. Se registraban cada cinco minutos la temperatura de la compresa y de la región lumbar y la existencia de eritema. Se empleó la prueba de Schober realizada antes de la primera y después de la última sesión. Tras quince minutos de tratamiento, la compresa de semillas presentó una temperatura final mayor. En este mismo periodo, la menor temperatura lumbar la registró la compresa de gel. El tratamiento con tres tipos de compresas aumentó la existencia de eritema y el significativo aumento de la flexibilidad de la región lumbar, evaluado por la prueba de Schober. Diferencias significativas ocurrieron con el empleo de los tres tipos de compresas calientes sobre la flexibilidad de la región lumbar. La compresa húmeda caliente tuvo una transferencia de calor para la región lumbar mayor, por lo que aumentó más la flexibilidad de la región evaluada.

Introduction. A high prevalence of hypogonadism (H) has been demonstrated in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). There are no studies in Latin America showing the prevalence of H in MetS in men below 60 years of age. The objective of this study was to determine the association between the MetS and levels of testosterone (T) and calculated free testosterone (cfT) in men under 60 years of age. Methodology. 101 men were included between 18 and 60 years who met the IDF MetS criteria. The diagnosis of H was considered Results. H with T was 17.8% and 20.7% with cfT. The H according to T had higher BMI, waist circumference, visceral fat, markers of insulin resistance, SHBG, LH, and E2. We find an inverse but weak significant correlation between T, visceral fat, and HOMA index. The linear regression analysis showed that E2 and visceral fat are determinants in H. Conclusion. We found a high prevalence of H using T and cfT in Chilean patients with MetS below 60 years of age, who turned out to be more insulin-resistant and have more visceral fat, waist, and E2 than non-H.

Background: The Chilean Ministry of Health developed a healthy lifestyles intervention directed to adults with overweight and cardiovascular risk factors, called "Program on Healthy Eating and Physical Activity" (PASAF). Aim: To evaluate the impact of PASAF on nutritional status and metabolic parameters. Patients and Methods: We analyzed databases from three primary care centers belonging to a municipality of Metropolitan Santiago. We selected adults enrolled in the PASAF during three years (2007-2009). The program lasted four months and included an assessment of anthropometric and metabolic parameters at baseline and at the end, eight workshops with a nutritionist, seven with a psychologist and 32 sessions of physical activity. Result: We evaluated 526 subjects aged ≥ 18 years (93% females), of whom 85.6% attended the last appointment for assessment. Analyzing available data, attendance to workshops was < 50% of the scheduled sessions. Weight, body mass index and waist circumference decreased significantly (median: -1.4 kg, -0.6 kg/m² and -3 cm, respectively). The median weight loss was 1.8% of initial weight and 17.1% of participants experienced a decrease ≥ 5% of their initial weight. There were significant improvements in lipid levels and blood pressure among participants with lower initial excess weight. A reduction in fasting blood glucose was observed only among subjects who lost ≥ 5% of their initial weight. Conclusions: The PASAF modestly reduced nutritional parameters. Correction of metabolic parameters was especially effective in less obese subjects. The attendance to workshops was low.

El gobierno de la empresa ha sido un tema que ha ganado cada vez más importancia en el mundo corporativo. Pese a que sus comienzos en términos de discusión formal datan de mediados de los años 70, el concepto subyacente tiene sus raíces de mucho antes. El problema se origina por la teoría de agencia, que expone un conflicto de interés entre accionistas y proveedores. Existen varias definiciones de gobierno corporativo, pero todas apuntan a un sistema de mecanismos internos y externos que atenúan el problema de agencia entre los distintos participantes de la gran empresa moderna. Entre algunos factores que pueden configurar la seriedad de las relaciones dentro de la empresa se encuentran los sistemas legales, los que darán pie a la importancia relativa que tengan tanto mecanismos externos como el mercado, y mecanismos internos, como lo es el directorio.

72 1024x768 Background: A significant number of students in health careers do not have the knowledge to approve basic courses. Therefore, educational programs to level off knowledge have been developed. Aim : To associate the results of a leveling program with the academic performance in cell biology (CB) and biochemistry (BC) of first year medical students. Material and methods : We applied a test to first year medical students at the beginning and end of the leveling program (control test). The results obtained at the end of the leveling program were correlated with the results obtained in CB and BC. Results : Fifty seven of 89 (64%) first year medical students met the study entry criteria (54% female). Students who completed the leveling program had a significantly higher approval rate in CB (93% versus 75%, P = 0.024), and in BC (95% versus 69%, P = 0.001). After completing the leveling program, the risk of failing CB and BC, decreased by 72 and 84% respectively, Conclusions : This study shows that medical students who participate in the leveling program decrease the chances of failing in CB and BC. Normal 0 21 false false false ES X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabla normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}