Colombia Médica is now indexed in MEDLINE/Pubmed: A dream come true.

It was said some years ago that «the shortest line inscience, as well as in love, is not the straight one»1. Thisturned out to be true for Acta Médica del Valle, ascientific journal launched in Cali, Colombia in 1970,when Rodrigo Guerrero et al., dreamt of having aperiodical to disseminate medical information –primarily in southwestern Colombia. Moreover, JorgeLega Siccar, president of this journal’s first editorialcommittee, envisioned that manuscripts coming fromthe «whole republic», as well as from overseas, wouldarrive at the editorial office of the newly born scientificjournal. And they accomplished it

Abnormality of motor cortex excitability in peripherally induced dystonia

It is widely accepted that peripheral trauma such as soft tissue injuries can trigger dystonia, although little is known about the underlying mechanism. Because peripheral injury only rarely appears to elicit dystonia, a predisposing vulnerability in cortical motor areas might play a role. Using single and paired-pulse pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation, we evaluated motor cortex excitability of a hand muscle in a patient with peripherally induced foot dystonia, in her brother with craniocervical dystonia, and in her unaffected sister, and compared their results to those from a group of normal subjects. In the patient with peripherally induced dystonia, we found a paradoxical intracortical facilitation at short interstimulus intervals of 3 and 5 milliseconds, at which regular intracortical inhibition (ICI) occurred in healthy subjects. These findings suggest that the foot dystonia may have been precipitated as the result of a preexisting abnormality of motor cortex excitability. Furthermore, the abnormality of ICI in her brother and sister indicates that altered motor excitability may be a hereditary predisposition. The study demonstrates that the paired-pulse technique is a useful tool to assess individual vulnerability, which can be particularly relevant when the causal association between trauma and dystonia is less evident

El impacto del factor de impacto: ¿mito o realidad?

La evaluación de la producción científica latinoamericana ha pasado por varias etapas, siendo el factor de impacto numérico (FIN), el método más publicitado en la actualidad. Infortunadamente, dicho FIN no sirve para medir de forma adecuada, la ciencia que se basa en el prestigio sino que es, eminentemente, una manera de evaluar la popularidad de una revista científica. Una importante cantidad de sesgos idiomáticos, matemáticos y científicos en general, impiden el uso del FIN como medida bibliométrica latinoamericana. Nuevos métodos cienciométricos como la «webometría» u otros, desarrollados de una manera más científica que los utilizados por el Institute of Scientific Information, como la #171Escala de Page#187 y el «Factor Y» parecen ofrecer resultados más consistentes, a la fecha, que los obtenidos con el FIN. Por ello, se debe continuar con el análisis y, probablemente, con la reevaluación del FIN como medida cienciométrica universal, sobre todo en países hispano-hablantes, de la misma forma como ya se está haciendo en algunos círculos académicos y científicos del, así denominado, primer mundo.The evaluation of scientific production in Latin America has had several eras being the numerical impact factor (FIN) the one that became the most popular one in recent years; unfortunately, the FIN measures journal popularity more than journal prestige. Thus, a lot of idiomatic, mathematical and scientific biases prevent the use of the FIN as a Latin American bibliometric measurement. New scienciometric methods such as webometrics and the like developed in more scientific way that than obtained by the Institute of Scientific Information must be considered from now on. It includes the Page Rank and the Y Factor both of which seem to give more consistent results than those obtained with the FIN. Due to this, it is mandatory to continue the analysis and, hopefully, to get a re-evaluation of the FIN as an universal scienciometric measure, mostly in Spanish-speaking countries as it has already been advanced in some academic and scientific circles of the so-called first world

Higher sensory processing sensitivity, introversion and ectomorphism: New biomarkers for human creativity in developing rural areas

The highly sensitive trait present in animals, has also been proposed as a human neurobiological trait. People having such trait can process larger amounts of sensory information than usual, making it an excellent attribute that allows to pick up subtle environmental details and cues. Furthermore, this trait correlates to some sort of giftedness such as higher perception, inventiveness, imagination and creativity. We present evidences that support the existance of key neural connectivity between the mentioned trait, higher sensory processing sensitivity, introversion, ectomorphism and creativity. The neurobiological and behavioral implications that these biomarkers have in people living in developing rural areas are discussed as well

Neuroplasticidad, Neuromodulación & Neurorehabilitación: Tres conceptos distintos y un solo fin verdadero

Resumen El sistema nervioso es un sistema cerrado pero, a la vez, muy dinámico, que asimila, reorganiza, y modifica los mecanismos biológicos, bioquímicos y fisiológicos que posee. Esta capacidad se denomina neuroplasticidad e implica cambios en el tejido neural que incluye regeneración axonal, colateralización, neurogénesis, sinaptogénesis y reorganización funcional, entre otros mecanismos. Dichos mecanismos emplean neurotrasmisores como el N-metil-D-apartato (NMDA), el acido gama-aminobutirico (GABA), la acetilcolina o la serotonina, involucrados en la potenciación o depresión sináptica a corto o largo plazo, la cual puede durar horas o días, sostenida por segundos mensajeros como el AMP cíclico, cuyos efectos pueden ser transitorios o permanentes. Estos efectos son la base de la neuromodulación. Esta última genera cambios a largo plazo en la actividad metabólica neuronal y su respuesta a diversos estímulos eléctricos, magnéticos o químicos, empleados en la neurorehabilitación clínica. Dicha neurorehabilitación es una intervención necesaria en, al menos, el 75% de los pacientes que han padecido un insulto neural, cuyo fundamento es la recuperación funcional del paciente. Por esto, la responsabilidad de los neurólogos clínicos, los neurocirujanos, los pediatras, los neuropediatras, los ortopedistas, los siquiatras y los cirujanos en general, entre otros profesionales de la salud debería no solo proveer un diagnóstico y suministrar un tratamiento médico o quirúrgico, sino reorientar al paciente hacia un programa formal de neurorehabilitación, liderado por especialistas en el área, donde le ayudaran a alcanzar una apropiada funcionabilidad, una óptima neurorestauración y una adecuada calidad de vida, incluyendo la de sus correspondientes familias. Palabras claves: neuroplasticidad, neuromodulación, neurorehabilitación, integración sensorimotora, neurofisiatria Abstract The nervous system is a closed system but, at the same time, is very dynamic and able to adapt, reorganize and modify the biological, biochemical and physiological mechanisms that it poses. This ability is called neuroplasticity and implies changes in neural structures such as axonal regeneration, collateralization, neurogenesis, synaptogenesis and functional reorganization, among other mechanisms. These mechanisms involve different neurotramsitters such as N-metil-D-apartate (NMDA), gama-amynobutiric acid (GABA), acetilcholine or serotonine; they are involved in short-term depression and potentiation which may last hours or days, maintained by second messengers such as cyclic AMP; its effects may be transient or permanents, and they are the basis of neuromodulation. This latter concept involves long term changes on the neuronal metabolism and its responses to electrical, magnetic or chemical stimuli are employed for neurorehabilitation. Neurorehabilitation is an intervention that must be apply in, at least, seventy five percent of patients suffering neural injuries being its main goal the functional recovery of patients. Accordingly, clinical neurologist, neurosurgeons, pediatricians, neuropediatricians, orthopedic surgeons, psychiatrist and general surgeons, among others health care professionals should offer not only a diagnosis and its corresponding medical or surgical treatment but also to reorient patients toward neurorehabilitation programs leaded by specialist properly trained in this area. This will help patients to obtain optimal functioning, better neurorestaurative condition and a more appropriate quality of life of patients and their relatives. Key Words: neuroplasticity, neuromodulation, neurorehabilitation, sensori-motor integration, neurophysiatris