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Biomedical subjects

A Rojas

Publications and source records attributed to A Rojas.

292 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

[Evaluation of a triatoma infestans eradication program in rural dwellings from the IV region, Chile, by means of serology for Chagas disease in 0-10 years old children].

The present study deals with the evaluation of the effectiveness of the measures employed in the control of Triatoma infestans, the vector of Trypanosoma cruzi infection (Chagas' disease), in the IV region of Chile through a serological follow up program. For this reason, a serological survey has been carried out in 2,783 children, from 0 to 10 years, who live in rural high endemic areas of the region. The sera were tested using an indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT) and ELISA techniques with results agreeing in 99.9% of the samples. In children with positive serology xenodiagnosis was performed and blood samples from the corresponding mothers were submitted to serology for Chagas' disease. These additional tests should allow to distinguish between congenital infection and vectorial transmission. It was observed that vectorial transmission of T. cruzi was interrupted in some localities where entomological control has been applied for 10 years, or lowered in those which have been submitted to desinsectations in the last 5 years. On the other hand, a relatively high prevalence of the infection has been detected in some localities. These results suggest an apparent increase of vectorial transmission, indicating the need of readjusting the dwellings insecticide sprayings activities to improve the measures against the vector.

Animals↗

[Hematological differences between the effects of roller vs, centrifugal pump].

A secondary complication in the utilization of the CPB (cardiopulmonary bypass) is post-op bleeding due to alterations in the red blood cells and the activation sequences between coagulation, fibrinolysis and complement. We did this study with the objective to evaluate the behavior of the blood cells and coagulation factors using centrifugal pump (n = 12) roller pump (n = 12); we evaluated the consumption of blood products as well as measuring the amount of blood products used. There were no demographic differences between the two groups, the time on CPB was less than 85 minutes, blood flow in the centrifugal pump was maintained at an average of 3.6 l Vs 3.37 l in the roller pump, this being statistically significant. The blood values were compared in each group there were no statistically significant differences, however factor VIII, fibrinogen and platelets presented a tendency (p < 0.05) to be higher in the centrifugal pump group than in the control group (roller pump). Thus 1. In patients in whom we used centrifugal pump there was a tendency for preservation of factor VIII, platelets and fibrinogen. 2. There was no significant difference in the number of blood units transfused between the centrifugal vs roller pump. 3. patients in the centrifugal group were better perfused during CPB.4. 24 hrs. post-op, both groups showed no difference in post-op bleeding.

Adult↗

[Evaluation of vectors of Chagas' disease eradication programs in Chile by serological study of children under 10 years old].

Chagas' disease is a parasitic zoonosis with high prevalence in Chile. It is distributed in rural and periurban section in the northern most seven out of thirteen regions in which the country is divided, and affects about 142,000 individuals dispersed in most of the 165 counties sited in the chagasic zone. Triatoma infestans--intradomiciliary species--is the main and practically exclusive vector of Trypanosoma cruzi. Diverse tools may be utilized in order to interrupt the domestic cycle of transmission of T. cruzi: health education, housing improvement and elimination of vectors by dwelling insecticide sprayings. This last resource has received priority in Chile in the last 12 years. To evaluate the effectivity of the programs for eliminating T. infestans a serological study for Chagas' disease--comprising 8,767 children less than 10 years old from 27 rural counties insecticide sprayed in the last 12 years--was carried out. A global total of 125 (1.4%) children resulted positive, figure significantly lower than 5.4% found in 1982-1990 in the same age group. Distribution by regions of positive individuals showed a decrease of prevalence in each of them: III Region, from 9.8 to 1.0%, IV Region, 7.2 to 2.0%, V Region, 5.2 to 1.9%, and Metropolitan Region, 1.4% to 0.6. Even though positive children have still been found in 46.7% of localities of the studied counties, it is possible to affirm that the vector control programs have been effective and must be maintained, and increased in those localities with T. cruzi infection in children under 10 years of age, with the general aim of eradicate Chagas' disease transmission in Chile before 2000.

Animals↗