Biomedica
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Ethics committees are a necessary resource to guarantee ethical integrity in human research; they must apply international standards in their ethical evaluation of research projects involving human subjects. ⋯ These observations led to the conclusion that national guidelines must be established for ethics committees that correspond to international standards. Committee members must be trained before accepting committee responsibilities. Finally, new committees must be created along with the improvement of the currently existing committees for reinforcing and promoting the importance of ethical integrity in research.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Oral rehydration with a plantain flour-based solution precooked with standardized electrolytes].
The success of oral rehydration therapy in cases of severe diarrheas have led to a need for locally based therapy preparations. A preparation consisting of a precooked plantain flour-based solution and standard rehydration electrolytes was examined for its effectiveness in treating dehydration, as well as its anti-diarrhoeal properties. ⋯ The plantain flour-based solution proved effective and safe in correcting dehydration; however the antidiarrhoeal properties of ORS/plaintain were not demonstrated.
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Historical Article
[Historical, social and epidemiological roots of tuberculosis in Bogotá, Colombia].
Understanding the current epidemiologic dynamic of tuberculosis (TB) in any society requires a holistic approach. In the current paper, the history and behavior of the TB is summarized for Bogotá, Colombia. In prehispanic periods the occurrence of TB was low. ⋯ After 1920, its occurrence was relatively steady until the 1970s, when its occurence greatly decreased. More recently, however, an increase in case numbers has been observed. The occurrence of TB in each period is associated with clearly defined social and environmental phenomena.
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The mummy studied belonged to the prehispanic Guane society. According to the Mom 003 record of the Archaeological Museum of the House of the Marqués de San Jorge, it was found in a cave in the department of Santander, Colombia, and was donated to the Culture Promotion Fund of the Banco Popular more than 30 years ago. ⋯ DNA obtained from lung tissue was submitted to ribotyping with genes of the 16S ribosomal subunit, giving positive results. This finding demonstrates the presence of tuberculosis in prehispanic Colombia.
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In a small village of Amazonian Colombia, the efficacy of ivermectin (200 microg/kg/day) was determined in a two-day treatment of children with uncomplicated strongyloidiasis. Criteria for inclusion in the study were as follows: absence of acute disease, no pretreatment with antiparasitic drugs within the last month, absence of severe liver or neurological disorders, and at least 2 of 4 stool samples positive for Strongyloides stercoralis. The Baermann technique was used to detect larvae; it had the advantage of reducing the frequency of false negative results in the subsequent examinations. ⋯ The cure rate for the S. stercoralis infection was 94% (46/49), with slight and temporary side effects. The effects of ivermectin on other intestinal parasites were characterized as well. In conclusion, a 200 microg/kg/d ivermectin dose was an adequate therapeutic regimen in the treatment of uncomplicated strongyloidiasis in children.