Multiproxy approach revealing climate and cultural changes during the last 26kyrs in south-central Chile

Multiproxy approach from Purén Lumaco Valley (38°S) describes the paleonvironmental history during the Last Maximum Glacial (LGM) in south-central Chile. Three sediment cores and severals AMS 14C dates were used to perform a complete pollen, diatoms, chironomids, and sedimentological records demonstrating the existence of a large and non profundal paleolake, between 25 and 20kyr BP.Some of these evidence are laminated silty-clay sediments (lacustrine rhythmites), associated with the presence of siderite mineral (FeCO3), besides biological proxies like Fragilaria construens and Stauroforma inermes (planctonic diatoms), and Dicrotendipes sp. and Tanytarsini tribe (littoral chironomids). The pollen ensemble reveals the first glacial refuge of Araucaria araucana forests in the low lands during the LGM.The lake was drained abruptly into a swamp/bog at 12kyr BP and colonized by Myrtaceae wet forest. This evidence suggest the dry/warm climate period of early Holocene in south-central Chile. Later, the sediments indicate variable lacustrine levels, and increase of charcoal particles, associated to current climatic conditions. The pollen spectrum dominated by Myrtaceae and Nothofagus contrasts with a strongly disturb current landscape. Actually, Purén-Lumaco valley constitutes a complex peat-bog system dominated by exotic grasses and forest species (Tritricum aestivum, Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus spp.).Some archaeological antecedents in the area document the human development at ca. 7yrs BP. The greatest archaeological characteristic present in the valley is the kuel, a Mapuche earth accumulation. The presence and extension of almost 300 kuel in the valley reflect the social/economic development, and partly explains why the region was the major resistance area for Spanish colonizer during XVI-XVII centuries. Also the archaeological findings reveal the presence of maize pollen (Zea mays) within their food consumption.The influence of climate and human impact in Holocene environments provide a better basis for understanding and managing the present landscape in Araucanian Region. Almost the absence of native forests in the area makes urgent strategies for the recovery and rehabilitation of a relict ecosystem that today represents their regional analog only in the tops of the Chilean Coastal Range

Increased risk of peripheral arterial disease in polymyalgia rheumatica: a population-based cohort study

INTRODUCTION: The present study was conducted to determine whether patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are at an increased risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). METHODS: An inception cohort of all Olmsted County, Minnesota residents diagnosed with PMR between 1 January 1970 and 31 December 1999 was compared with non-PMR subjects (two for each PMR subject) from among residents. Both cohorts were followed longitudinally by complete medical record review from the incidence date of PMR (or index date for the non-PMR cohort) until death, incident PAD, migration, or 31 December 2006. PMR-related disease characteristics, traditional cardiovascular risk factors and diagnosis of PAD were abstracted from the medical record. Cumulative incidence of PAD was estimated using Kaplan–Meier methods. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the risk of PAD in PMR compared with non-PMR. RESULTS: A total of 353 PMR patients (mean age 73.3 years, 67% women) and 705 non-PMR subjects (mean age 73.2 years, 68% female) were followed for a median of 11.0 years. PAD developed in 38 patients (10-year cumulative incidence, 8.5%) with PMR and in 28 non-PMR subjects (10-year cumulative incidence, 4.1%) (hazard ratio (95% confidence interval), 2.40 (1.47, 3.92)). After adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, patients with PMR still had a significantly higher risk for PAD (hazard ratio, 2.50 (1.53, 4.08)) compared with controls. Giant cell arteritis occurred in 63 (18%) PMR patients but was not predictive of PAD (P = 0.15). There was no difference between mortality in PMR and the non-PMR cohorts nor in PMR patients with and those without PAD (P = 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PMR appear to have an increased risk of PAD

Determination of nicotine level in venezuelan chimo

El chimó es un tipo de tabaco de mascar usado en Venezuela por personas de diferentes edades y diversos estratos socioeconómicos. Como cualquier otro derivado del tabaco causa adicción y se ha relacionado el chimó con lesiones precancerígenas a nivel bucal. El contenido de nicotina en el chimó ha sido poco estudiado y dado su alto consumo se decidió determinar el nivel de nicotina presente en seis variedades comerciales de chimó disponibles en el mercado venezolano. Para este estudio se utilizó cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas (CG-EM). Se encontró que el chimó elaborado artesanalmente contenía 0,009 mg/g de nicotina, en tanto que las cinco presentaciones de chimó semi-industrial contenían 10,8 mg/g (Chinata®), 8,5 mg/g (Recio Apureño®), 4,04 mg/g (Llanero de Socopó®), 3,84 mg/g (Tigrito®) y 3,64 mg/g (Andinito®). Estas diferencias en el nivel de nicotina posiblemente se deben a que cada fabricante utiliza diferentes variedades de tabaco o emplea cantidades diferentes de hojas de tabaco en la elaboración de su [email protected]@ula.veSemestralIn Venezuela a chewing-type tobacco is called chimó, which is used by persons of different age and socioeconomic status. Chimó like all tobacco derivatives is addictive and has been linked to oral precancerous lesions. The nicotine content of chimó is poorly documented, given its high consumption it was decided to determine the level of nicotine in six commercial varieties available in the Venezuelan market. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometer (GC-MS) was used in this study. It was found that artisan chimó contained 0.009 mg/g of nicotine while semi-industrial chimó contained 10.8 mg/g (Chinata®), 8.5 mg/g (Recio Apureño®), 4.04 mg/g (Llanero de Socopó®), 3.84 mg/g (Tigrito®) y 3.64 mg/g (Andinito®). These differences in nicotine level might be due either the tobacco varieties used or to different amounts of tobacco leaves used in the manufacture of each variety of chimó

AISLAMIENTO DE ESPECIES DE Pseudomonas DE LAS LÍNEAS DE AGUA DE LAS UNIDADES ODONTOLÓGICAS

Numerosas investigaciones reportan una nueva forma de contaminación en odontología, referida a laslíneas de agua de la unidad dental. Se ha descrito que la hidrodinamia del agua promueve la formaciónde biopelículas en estos aditamentos. Entre las bacterias frecuentemente recuperadas a partir debiopelículas en las líneas de agua de la unidad dental, Pseudomonas aeruginosa está presente en 75-100% de los casos, siendo importante fuente de infección para individuos inmunosuprimidos. La ClínicaIntegral del Adulto de la Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida-Venezuela, cuentacon unidades odontológicas surtidas con agua proveniente del suministro externo y unidades condepósitos de agua anexos, sitios que constituyen un reservorio ideal para la formación de biopelículasque alojen especies de Pseudomonas. El presente estudio tuvo como propósito aislar especies dePseudomonas a partir de 25 muestras de agua provenientes de las líneas de agua y suministros externosde unidades odontológicas en la Clínica Integral del Adulto, para lo cual se desarrolló una investigacióndescriptiva no experimental de corte transversal y cuantitativa. Las muestras fueron recolectadas ysometidas a estudios microbiológicos. Los resultados demostraron la presencia de P. aeruginosa y P.fluorescens, entre otros microorganismos patógenos al ser humano, en el agua proveniente de la jeringatriple, la turbina y el suministro externo, situación que refleja un incremento del riesgo de contaminacióncruzada por deficiencia en los estándares del agua a ser utilizada para fines odontológicos.ABSTRACT Several studies have reported a new way for infection in dentistry referred to dental unit waterlines. Ithas been described that water's hydrodynamics promotes the biofilm formation in those devices. Amongother bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common pathogens isolated from dental unitwaterlines (75-100%) which can cause infection to humans with immune deficiencies. The dental units,at the service of integral adult attention, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Los Andes, Mérida-Venezuela,can have either external potable tap water supply or container devices. In both cases, the attachment ofPseudomonas species to biofilm could be considered for the inner surfaces of the waterlines. The aim ofthis study was to isolate Pseudomonas species from the dental unit waterlines and from the incomingpotable tap water supply. Through a descriptive, non experimental, quantitative, cross-sectional study,25 samples of water leaving from dental units and incoming from potable water supply were evaluatedusing microbiological analysis. The presence of P. aeruginosa and P. fluorescens, among other pathogensto human, was demonstrated in the water from 3-in-1 syringe, turbine and external water supply. Theseresults indicate a high risk of cross-infection due to deficiencies in sanitary requirements for potablewater used in dental procedures