El hombre de Cuchipuy ( prehistoria de Chile central)

These three investigators summarize the most relevant consequences deriving from the discovery of a pre-Hispanic cemetery in the region called Cuchipuy, near the town of San Vicente de Taguatagua, in the central part of Chile. This burying-place has four levels, the oldest of which is dated c. 8.000 year ago on the basis of radiocarbon analyses. The findings constitute a major contribution to studies on the biological variability of American man, giving support to hypotheses suggesting arrival during different periods. Thus, the Cuchipuy Cemetery, together with Indian Knoll, and Guayas, in Ecuador, because of its antiquity, extension and number of burials, occupies a relevant position within the studies on the Archaic period in America

Cementerio del periodo arcaico en Cuchipuy

Debido a la información proporcionada por el dueño de un predio en la localidad de Cuchipuy, confirmamos en 1978 la existencia de restos óseos humanos al costado de un camino que corta parte de un cerrito, llamado por los lugareños "El Cerrillo", y pudimos comprobar que corresponde a un cementerio precolombino

Cementerio del periodo arcaico en Cuchipuy

Debido a la información proporcionada por el dueño de un predio en la localidad de Cuchipuy, confirmamos en 1978 la existencia de restos óseos humanos al costado de un camino que corta parte de un cerrito, llamado por los lugareños "El Cerrillo", y pudimos comprobar que corresponde a un cementerio precolombino

Polymerase chain reaction for Streptococcus pyogenes used to evaluate an optical immunoassay for the detection of group A streptococci in children with pharyngitis

BACKGROUND.In evaluations of sensitive rapid tests for group A streptococci such as the optical immunoassay (OIA), some samples are positive by the antigen test but negative by culture. A method is needed for resolving these discrepant results. OBJECTIVE.To develop a PCR-based assay to detect group A streptococci and to use it to establish a reference standard for evaluating an OIA for group A streptococcal antigen. METHODS.A PCR assay that detects a segment of the MF gene of Streptococcus pyogenes was developed for the detection of group A streptococci in throat swabs. Paired swabs were obtained from 200 children with symptomatic pharyngitis and used to perform OIA, agar culture, brothenhanced culture and PCR. As a reference standard any patient with group A streptococci detected by either culture or PCR was considered to be truly positive. RESULTS.In comparison to agar and broth-enhanced culture procedures, OIA had sensitivities of 82 and 80% and specificities of 87 and 89%, respectively. Eight (44%) of 18 samples that were positive by OIA but negative by culture were positive for group A streptococci by PCR. Compared with the reference standard, sensitivities were OIA 76%, agar culture 79%, broth-enhanced culture 86% and PCR 96%. The specificity of OIA was 92%. CONCLUSIONS.PCR can be used to establish a reference standard for evaluating rapid tests for group A streptococci. With this reference standard OIA was nearly as sensitive as but less specific than agar culture for detection of group A streptococci. Maximum detection requires use of both tests