Economic Impact of Cystic Echinococcosis in Peru

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by infection with the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus, constitutes an important public health problem in Peru. Despite its high prevalence in endemic communities no studies have attempted to estimate the economic impact of CE in Peruvian society. We used official and published sources of epidemiological and economic information to estimate direct and indirect costs associated with livestock production losses and human disease. We also used disability adjusted life years (DALYs) which is an overall measure of disease burden, expressed as number of years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death due to CE. We found that the total estimated cost of human CE in Peru was U.S.$2,420,348 per year. Total estimated livestock-associated costs due to CE ranged from U.S.$196,681 to U.S.$3,846,754. An estimated 1,139 DALYs were also lost due to surgical cases of CE which is comparable to DALY losses from Amebiasis or Malaria in Peru. This conservative assessment found significant economic losses caused by this CE in Peruvian society. The findings of this study are important as these data can serve to prioritize those areas that may need to be targeted in a control program

South American opinions on the war: I. Chile and the war,

The two articles as combined here have been reissued in the original Spanish under the caption "Opiniones sudamericanas sobre la guerra" as bulletin no. 15 of the Interamerican Division of "International Conciliation" under the auspices of the American Association for International Conciliation, Interamerican Division."The paper on Chile was published early in 1916 ... The paper on Ecuador was published as a pamphlet at Quito in June 1917." cf. Introd.Mode of access: Internet

Comparison of effectiveness and sensitivity using two in-office bleaching protocols for a 6% hydrogen peroxide gel in a randomized clinical trial

Objective: The aim of this blinded and randomized clinical trial was to compare two application protocols (one 36-minute application vs three 12-minute applications). We then assessed the effectiveness of the bleaching and any increase in sensitivity that was induced by bleaching via a split-mouth design. Methods and Materials: Thirty patients were treated. One group had a half arch of teeth treated with a traditional application protocol (group A: 3 3 12 minutes for two sessions). The other received an abbreviated protocol (group B: 1 3 36 minutes over two sessions). Two sessions were appointed with a two-day interval between them. The tooth color was registered at each session, as well as one week and one month after completing the treatment via a spectrophotometer. This measured L*, a*, and b*. This was also evaluated subjectively using the VITA classical A1-D4 guide and VITA Bleachedguide 3D-MASTER. Tooth sensitivity was registered according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) scale. Tooth color variation and sensitivity were compared between groups. Results: Both treatments changed tooth color vs baseline. The DE* = 5.71 6 2.62 in group A, and DE* = 4.93 6 2.09 in group B one month after completing the bleaching (p=0.20). No statistical differences were seen via subjective evaluations. There were no differences in tooth sensitivity between the groups. The absolute risk of sensitivity reported for both groups was 6.25% (p=0.298). The intensity by VAS was mild (p=1.00). Conclusions: We used hydrogen peroxide (6%) that was light activated with a hybrid LED/ laser and two different protocols (one 36-minute application vs three 12-minute applications each for two sessions). These approaches were equally effective. There were no differences in absolute risk of sensitivity; both groups reported mild sensitivity