Excessive erythrocytosis, chronic mountain sickness, and serum cobalt levels.

In a subset of high-altitude dwellers, the appropriate erythrocytotic response becomes excessive and can result in chronic mountain sickness. We studied men with (study group) and without excessive erythrocytosis (packed-cell volume >65%) living in Cerro de Pasco, Peru (altitude 4300 m), and compared them with controls living in Lima, Peru (at sea-level). Toxic serum cobalt concentrations were detected in 11 of 21 (52%) study participants with excessive erythrocytosis, but were undetectable in high altitude or sea-level controls.

[Deep frying snack product of legume/cereal mixture based on corn and three varieties of beans].

To increase legume consumption and give a better protein quality in the snack products, mixtures of fried beans-corn were formulate in different proportions: 60:40 (A); 50:50 (B) and 40:60 (C). Fried corn used in mixtures was previously soaked in a predetermined solution (NaOH/EDTA) and then blanched. Three beans varieties (Pinto 114, Suave 85 and Tórtola Inia) were mixed with fried yellow dent corn in the above described proportions, obtaining nine mixtures whose physical, chemical and sensorial characteristics were evaluated.

[Processing and characterization of fried beans varieties Pinto 114, Suave 85 and Tórtola Inia].

The objective of this study was develop a snack product based on fried beans. For this purpose, three bean varieties were used: Pinto 114, Suave 85 and Tórtola Inia. The beans were treated with two soaking solutions, EDTA disodium salt and a mixture of NaOH/water, to determine if they had some effect on the product's final quality.

Detection of groundwater conduits in limestones with gravity surveys: data from the area of the Chicxulub Impact crater, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Small negative gravity anomalies are found in gravity data from along the northwestern shoreline of the Yucatan Peninsula. These anomalies are shown to be due to elongate, shallow anomalous porosity zones in the Tertiary carbonates. These zones are caused primarily by groundwater solution and are presently active conduits for groundwater flow.

Distinct patterns of glomerular disease in Lima, Peru.

Aim: We performed both a retrospective and prospective study to elucidate the types of glomerular diseases present in adults in Lima, Peru.

Material And Methods: In the retrospective study, we analyzed 1,263 renal biopsies over a 10-year period (1985 -1995) that were processed at a central reference renal pathology laboratory in Lima. 101 cases were examined in the prospective study.

Reverse mode of the Na+-Ca2+ exchange after myocardial stretch: underlying mechanism of the slow force response.

This study was designed to gain additional insight into the mechanism of the slow force response (SFR) to stretch of cardiac muscle. SFR and changes in intracellular Na(+) concentration ([Na(+)](i)) were assessed in cat papillary muscles stretched from 92% to approximately 98% of L(max). The SFR was 120+/-0.

Epidemiology of paragonimiasis in Colombia.

Five newly discovered endemic foci for paragonimiasis in Colombia are described for the first time. The disease was diagnosed in 24 people from the Embera Indian communities located at the Colombian Pacific Coast and investigated in 1993-98. We also describe the clinical, epidemiological and treatment response aspects.

Staphylococcal peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: colonization with identical strains at exit site, nose, and hands.

To evaluate the relationship of nasal or skin Staphylococcus carrier status with identical strains and the development of staphylococcal peritonitis, 59 consecutive peritonitis episodes in patients using a twin-bag system for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis from a single dialysis center were prospectively studied. Dialysate samples and exit-site, nose, and nail swabs from patients and their dialysis partners were obtained on the same day for culture. When bacteria belonging to the same species of the Staphylococcus genus were isolated from dialysate and at least one extraperitoneal anatomic site, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing was performed.

Panorama of acute diarrhoeal diseases in Mexico.

We examined the recent panorama of ADD related deaths in Mexico in an effort to assess the overall impact of control measures that may vary in space and time. We pay particular attention to mortality rates recorded between 1985-1995, that is, before and after the cholera emergency. The aim is to focus on the social groups at risk, using time series data represented in the form of images and produced by a geographic information system (GIS).

Flow cytometric assessment of allopurinol susceptibility in Leishmania infantum promastigote.

Background: Leishmaniasis is a major tropical and subtropical parasitic disease. Sodium stibogluconate, N-methyl -D-glucamine antimoniate, amphotericin B, pentamidine, and ketoconazole are drugs used to treat this disease. Some of these drugs cause severe adverse side effects and treatment failures are common.

Bioequivalence study of paracetamol tablets: in vitro-in vivo correlation.

The bioequivalence of three chemically equivalent paracetamol generic Mexican products (500 mg tablets) was evaluated in 12 healthy volunteers using the American innovator product (Tylenol, McNeil, Fort Washington, PA), as the reference. Single oral doses of each product were administered at 1-week intervals using a 4 x 4 Latin square design balanced for the first residual effect. The total amount of paracetamol excreted in urine in 24 hr was taken as a measure of bioavailability.

"It's a Wonderful Life". signaling generosity among the Ache of Paraguay.

Intensive food sharing among foragers and horticulturists is commonly explained as a means of reducing the risk of daily shortfalls, ensuring adequate daily consumption for all group members who actively pool resources. Consistently high food producers who give more than they receive, however, gain the least risk-reduction benefit from this daily pooling because they are the least likely to go without food on any given day. Why then do some high producers consistently share food, and why do some average producers share proportionally more food than others? We propose that although these individuals may not receive the same amounts they give (i.

Stimulation of myocardial Na(+)-independent Cl(-)-HCO(3)(-) exchanger by angiotensin II is mediated by endogenous endothelin.

Experiments were performed in isolated cat papillary muscles loaded with the pH-sensitive dye 2', 7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein in the esterified form to study the effect of endothelin-1 (ET-1) on the activity of the Na(+)-independent Cl(-)-HCO(3)(-) exchanger. Exposure to ET-1 (10 nmol/L) raised pH(i) by 0.13+/-0.

Measuring consumer experiences with primary care.

Objective: To assess the adequacy of the Primary Care Assessment Tool-Child Edition (PCAT-CE) for evaluating the attainment of the key characteristics of primary care services for children and youth.

Design: Community-based telephone survey.

Setting: Specific political subdivision in Washington, DC.

Clinicopathologic correlations in lupus nephritis in Lima, Peru.

Background: We assessed whether immunohistologic markers for glomerular or tubulointerstitial injury might provide better correlations with ongoing renal function and disease activity as compared with the WHO classification or the NIH activity and chronicity indices in lupus nephritis.

Methods: Thirty-three patients with clinically defined systemic lupus underwent renal biopsy over a 1-year period at Hospital Loayza in Lima, Peru. Biopsy specimens were evaluated for macrophages, proliferating cells, alpha-actin expression, and type IV collagen deposition in both glomeruli and the tubulointerstitium and the results compared with the current WHO and NIH classifications in relation to the clinical presentation.

Prevention of peritonitis with disconnect systems in CAPD: a randomized controlled trial. The Mexican Nephrology Collaborative Study Group.

Background: Recently, disconnect systems for CAPD that are associated with a reduced frequency of peritonitis have been introduced. Our objective was to compare the incidence of peritonitis using three current CAPD systems in a high-risk population with low educational and socioeconomic levels, and high prevalence of malnutrition.

Methods: In a prospective controlled trial, 147 patients commencing CAPD were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 29 to the conventional, 57 to the Y-set, and 61 to the twin bag systems.

Aetiology of ovine footrot in Spain.

Four hundred and sixty strains of obligate anaerobes were isolated from 216 cases of ovine foot rot distributed throughout Spain. The predominant species was Dichelobacter nodosus, which was isolated in 168 cases (77.8 per cent).

Minimum inhibitory concentrations for selected antimicrobial agents against Fusobacterium necrophorum isolated from hepatic abscesses in cattle and sheep.

Minimum inhibitory concentrations for 35 antimicrobial agents against 100 Fusobacterium necrophorum isolates from hepatic abscesses in sheep and cattle were determined. Twelve of the thirteen beta-lactam antibiotics tested inhibited growth of 100% of strains tested. Of the remaining antimicrobial agents, extensive susceptibility was found for: spiramycin, josamycin, lincomycin, tylosin, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, rufloxacin, metronidazole, cotrimoxazole, sulfadimethoxine, virginiamycin and fosfomycin.

Managed care, primary care, and quality for children.

In an effort to provide medical care that is both more effective and less costly, the new variants of managed care organizations have instituted a variety of incentives and administrative controls that impact on the types and quantity of care provided to patients. Evidence suggests that the early forms of managed care, namely prepaid group practices, showed particular promise in improving the primary care delivered to children, ie, care that is accessible, person-focused in the long term, comprehensive, coordinated, and oriented toward achieving better outcomes. However, recent evidence concerning the quality of care delivered to children in the newer variants of managed care is mixed and scant; the newer organizational forms may not facilitate and may even have a negative impact on the attainment of primary care.

School-based health centers. Students' access, knowledge, and use of services.

Objective: To examine students' knowledge, barriers to access, and use of services at two school-based health centers.

Design: In-person survey.

Settings: Two urban public schools in Baltimore, Md.

Comparative in vitro activity of 11 beta-lactam antibiotics against 91 Staphylococcus intermedius strains isolated from staphylococcal dermatitis in dogs.

A study was made of the susceptibility of 91 strains of Staphylococcus intermedius, isolated from staphylococcal dermatitis of dogs, to 11 beta-lactam antimicrobial agents. The activity of these antimicrobial agents against all strains was tested at pH 7.2 and 8.

Efficacy of the E-test in evaluating the antimicrobial susceptibility of anaerobic bacteria of veterinary interest.

A study was made of the sensitivity of 39 clinical isolates of anaerobic bacteria to 10 antimicrobial agents. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were calculated using a new method--the E-test (AB Biodisk, Solna, Sweden)--and compared with those obtained using the conventional agar dilution method. Agreement between the MICs obtained by the two methods with a variation of +/- 2 dilutions was 78.