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La sarcopenia está caracterizada por la baja masa y fuerza muscular en los adultos mayores. La implementación de técnicas de modificación de la conducta como la técnica de economía de fichas (TEF) puede fungir como estrategia para mejorar la adherencia al tratamiento. El objetivo fue evaluar el efecto de la TEF sobre las conductas de tratamiento: realizar la rutina de ejercicio de resistencia, consumir el suplemento de proteína y consumir el suplemento de vitamina D. Se realizó un estudio de caso de múltiples sujetos en ocho adultos mayores con sarcopenia. El estudio estuvo conformado por tres fases: pre-intervención, intervención conductual y post-intervención conductual. Se evaluó la frecuencia de las conductas de tratamiento en las tres fases, además de los cambios en masa y fuerza muscular. El análisis de los datos se realizó por medio de estadística descriptiva. Los resultados mostraron que la frecuencia de las conductas de tratamiento aumentó en el 100% de los participantes en la etapa de intervención conductual al comparar con la fase pre-intervención, valores que no regresaron a cero en la fase post-intervención conductual. El 83.3 % de los participantes dejaron de tener el diagnóstico de sarcopenia con base en los cambios de masa y fuerza muscular.

Sarcopenia is characterized by low muscle mass and strength in older adults. It is caused by decreased physical activity and quality of dietary intake. Therefore, the implementation of behavior modification techniques such as the token economy technique can serve as a strategy to improve treatment. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of the token economy technique on treatment behaviors. A multiple case studies with an ABC-type design was conducted in eight older adults with sarcopenia. The intervention consisted of modification of treatment-related behaviors; in addition, changes in muscle mass and strength were assessed. The results showed that the frequency of target behaviors increased in 100% of the participants in the intervention stage compared to baseline. The frequency of the target behaviors did not return to the obtained baseline compared to the maintenance stage. 83.3% of the participants changed their sarcopenia diagnosis.

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Sarcoptic mange epidemics can devastate wildlife populations. In 2014, mange was first detected in vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) and guanacos (Lama guanicoe) in San Guillermo National Park (SGNP), Argentina. This study describes the temporal dynamics of the outbreak, its effects on the park's wild camelid populations between 2017-2019, and investigates the potential source of the epidemic. From May 2017 to June 2018, transect surveys indicated a sharp decrease in the density of living vicuñas and guanacos by 68% and 77%, respectively. By April 2019 no vicuñas or guanacos were recorded on transect surveys, suggesting their near-extinction in the park. Clinical signs consistent with mange (e.g., intense scratching, hyperkeratosis, alopecia) were observed in 24% of living vicuñas (n = 478) and 33% of living guanacos (n = 12) during surveys, as well as in 94% of vicuña carcasses (n = 124) and 85% of guanaco carcasses (n = 20) examined. Sarcoptes scabiei was identified as the causal agent by skin scrapings, and the cutaneous lesions were characterized by histopathology (n = 15). Genetic characterization revealed that mites recovered from seven vicuñas (n = 13) and three guanacos (n = 11) shared the same genotype, which is consistent with a single source and recent origin of the epidemic. Tracing the potential source, we identified a governmental livestock incentive program which introduced llamas (Lama glama) in areas adjacent to SGNP in 2009, some of which had alopecic scaling consistent with sarcoptic mange. Though at the time of our study no llamas with mange were available for confirmatory sampling, we hypothesize that the introduction of mange-infected llamas may have triggered the outbreak in wild camelids. This unprecedented event in SGNP had devastating effects on dominating herbivores with potentially profound cascading effects at the community and ecosystem levels.

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Chagas' disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi which is endemic throughout Latin America and is spread by worldwide migration. Diagnosis is currently limited to serological and molecular techniques having variations regarding their sensitivity and specificity. This work was aimed at developing a new sensitive, applicable, and cost-effective molecular diagnosis technique for loop-mediated isothermal amplification-based detection of T. cruzi (Tc-LAMP). The results led to determining a highly homologous satellite repeat region (231 bp) among parasite strains as a molecular marker for diagnosing the disease. Tc-LAMP was performed correctly for detecting parasite DNA (5 fg for the CL Brener strain and 50 fg for the DM28, TcVI, and TcI strains). Assay results proved negative for DNA from 16 helminth species and 7 protozoa, including Leishmania spp. Tc-LAMP based on the highly repeated T. cruzi satellite region is thus proposed as an important alternative for diagnosing T. cruzi infection, overcoming other methods' limitations such as their analytic capability, speed, and requiring specialized equipment or highly trained personnel. Tc-LAMP could be easily adapted for point-of-care testing in areas having limited resources.

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Introducción La gammagrafía de esfuerzo es un método ampliamente utilizado para el diagnóstico de la cardiopatía isquémica, que ofrece además una gran seguridad. Los estudios con estrés farmacológico son una alternativa importante para evocar una situación de estrés. La presentación más tardía de cardiopatía isquémica en mujeres que en hombres y las limitaciones relacionadas con el sexo para la realización de la ergometría han generado interés en el beneficio potencial añadido de la imagen de perfusión de esfuerzo en mujeres. Objetivo Determinar los valores diagnósticos del estudio de perfusión miocárdica con 99mTc-tetrofosmina en protocolo de un día tras estímulo farmacológico con dipiridamol en una población de mujeres, así como la relación con los territorios vasculares coronarios tomando como referencia la coronariografía. Material y métodos Se estudiaron con carácter retrospectivo 149 historias clínicas de mujeres con sospecha de cardiopatía isquémica sometidas a una prueba de perfusión miocárdica y posteriormente a una coronariografía. Resultados Se obtuvieron valores de sensibilidad y especificidad del 94% (93,47%-94,53%) y el 82% (80,94%-83,06%), respectivamente. Por territorio arterial, se obtuvieron valores de sensibilidad y especificidad del 71,62% (70,88%-72,36%) y el 76% (75,27%-76,73%) para la descendente anterior (DA), del 69,09% (68,11%-70,07%) y el 76,84% (76,26%-77,42%) para la circunfleja (Cx) y del 87,23% (86,11%-88,36%) y el 74,51% (73,97%-75,05%) para la coronaria derecha (CD), respectivamente. Conclusiones La gammagrafía de perfusión miocárdica estimulación/reposo con 99mTc-tetrofosmina y dipiridamol, utilizando el protocolo de un día, tiene alta sensibilidad y especificidad para el diagnóstico en mujeres con sospecha de cardiopatía isquémica.

Background Exercise stress scintigraphy is a safe procedure widely used for the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease. Pharmacologic stress testing is an important alternative. The delayed presentation of ischemic heart disease in women, together with a lower diagnostic accuracy of exercise stress testing in this population, has generated interest in the potential benefits provided by myocardial perfusion imaging tests. Objective To determine the diagnostic value of myocardial perfusion images with 99mTc-tetrofosmin in a one day protocol after a pharmacologic stress with dipyridamole in a female population, and the relation with the coronary territories using coronary angiography as a reference technique. Material and Methods In total, 149 clinical charts of women with suspected ischemic heart disease undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging tests and coronary angiography were retrospectively analyzed. Results Sensitivity and specificity were 94% (93.47%-94.53%) and 82% (80.94%-83.06%), respectively. Values of sensitivity and specificity according to coronary territories were 71.62% (70.88%-72.36%) and 76% (75.27%-76.73%) for the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, 69.09% (68.11%-70.07%) and 76.84% (76.26%-77.42%) for the left circumflex (LCx) coronary artery, and 87.23% (86.11%-88.36%) and 74.51% (73.97%-75.05%) for the right coronary artery (RCA), respectively. Conclusion Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with 99mTc-tetrofosmin and dipyridamole using a one day stress-rest protocol has high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease in women.

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Con el objetivo de evaluar la salud de vizcachas salvajes (Lagostomus maximus), se capturaron en el Chaco Árido argentino 10 ejemplares y se efectuaron 11 inmovilizaciones con anestesias fijas o inhalatoria. Para las anestesias, se administraron una combinación de tiletamina- zolazepam (n = 7) o una combinación de medetomidina y ketamina (n = 2) o gas isofluorano con un vaporizador portátil creando un circuito semicerrado (n = 2). Los estudios de salud comprendieron hematología, bioquímica sanguínea, análisis parasitológicos y de exposición a agentes infecciosos mediante cultivo y serología. El uso de tiletamina-zolazepam resultó en una pobre calidad anestésica y recuperaciones prolongadas. Por El contrario, el uso de medetomidina-ketamina o de isofluorano, proporcionaron inmovilizaciones más seguras. Se concluye que el protocolo testado de tiletamina-zolazepam no sería recomendable para esta especie, sobre todo en vida libre. La búsqueda de anticuerpos para los agentes infecciosos evaluados resultó negativa, por otra parte, se aisló Listeria innocua serovar 6a em hisopados rectales, se constató infestación con pulgas (Pulex irritans), ooquistes de Eimeria lagostomi, huevos de la Familia Trichostrongylidae y huevos similares a Heteroxynema viscaciae(AU)

Com objetivo de avaliar a condição sanitária de viscachas selvagens (Lagostomus maximus), foram capturados, no Chaco Árido argentino, 10 animais e realizadas 11 imobilizações, com anestesia injetável ou inalatória. Empregaram-se três diferentes protocolos: tiletamina-zolazepam (n = 7), metetomidina-cetamina (n = 2) ou isoflurano com vaporizador portátil em sistema semi-fechado (n = 2). A avaliação sanitária consistiu de hematologia, bioquímica sérica, exames parasitológicos e avaliação da exposição a agentes infecciosos por cultura e sorologia. O uso de tiletamina-zolazepam proporcionou má qualidade anestésica e recuperações prolongadas, enquanto a combinação medetomidina-cetamina, possibilitou imobilizações mais seguras. Assim, o protocolo testado de tiletamina-zolazepam não é indicado para esta espécie, especialmente em animais de vida livre. A pesquisa de anticorpos para os agentes infecciosos avaliados foi negativa, mas isolou-se Listeria innocua serovar 6a de suabes retais, e foram encontradas pulgas (Pulex irritans), oocistos de Eimeria lagostomi, ovos de Trichostrongylidae e ovos similares a Heteroxynema viscaciae.(AU)

In order to evaluate the sanitary condition of wild vizcachas (Lagostomus maximus), 10 animals were captured in the Arid Chaco of Argentina and 11 immobilizations were performed through injectable or volatile anesthesia. Three different protocols were used: tiletamine-zolazepam (n = 7), medetomidine-ketamine (n = 2), or isofluorane with a portable vaporizer in a semi-closed circuit (n = 2). The sanitary assessment consisted of hematology, blood chemistry, parasitological analysis, and the assessment of the exposure to infectious agents by culture and serology. The use of tiletamine-zolazepam caused poor anesthetic quality and prolonged recoveries, while the medetomidine-ketamin combination, however, caused safer immobilizations. Thus, the use of the tested protocol of tiletamine-zolazepam is not advisable for this species, mainly for free-ranging animals. The search of antibodies for the evaluated infectious agents was negative, but there was isolated Listeria innocua serovar 6a from rectal swabs , fleas were found (Pulex irritans), oocytes of Eimeria lagostomi, Trichostrongylidae eggs as well as similar Heteroxynema viscaciae eggs.(AU)

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