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Eleutherine plicata has been shown to be a promising medicinal plant, and its activity has been associated with naphthoquinones. The present study aimed at evaluating the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and oral toxicity of the ethanol extract (EEEp), dichloromethane fraction (FDMEp) of E. plicata, and isoeleutherin. For the cytotoxicity evaluation, the viability test (MTT) was used. Genotoxicity was accessed through the Comet assay (alkaline version), acute and subacute oral toxicities were also evaluated. The antioxidant capacity of the samples in the wells where the cells were treated with E. plicata was evaluated. Furthermore, the participation of caspase-8 in the possible mechanism of action of isoeleutherin, eleutherin, and eleutherol was also investigated through a docking study. FDMEp and isoeleutherin were cytotoxic, with higher rates of DNA fragmentation observed for FDMEp and isoeleutherin, and all samples displayed higher antioxidant potential than the control. In the acute oral toxicity test, EEEp, FDMEp, and isoeleutherin did not cause significant clinical changes. In the subacute toxicity assay, EEEp and FDMEp also did not cause clinical, hematological, or biochemical changes. The three compounds bound similarly to caspase-8. Despite the results of cytotoxicity, in vitro studies demonstrated that the use of EEEp appears to be safe and cell death may involve its binding to caspase-8.

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The safety and bioactive potential of crude carotenoid extract from Cantaloupe melon nanoencapsulated in porcine gelatin (EPG) were evaluated in a chronic inflammatory experimental model. Animals were fed a high glycemic index and high glycemic load (HGLI) diet for 17 weeks and treated for ten days with 1) HGLI diet, 2) standard diet, 3) HGLI diet + crude carotenoid extract (CE) (12.5 mg/kg), and 4) HGLI diet + EPG (50 mg/kg). General toxicity signals were investigated, considering body weight, food intake, hematological, biochemical parameters, relative weight, morphology, and histopathology of organs. The biochemical parameters indicated the low toxicity of EPG. Acute hepatitis was observed in animals' livers, but CE and EPG groups presented improved tissue appearance. Chronic enteritis was observed in animals, with villi and intestinal glands preservation in the EPG group. The results suggest the safety and the bioactive effect of EPG, possibly related to its anti-inflammatory potential.

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Resumo Neste artigo buscamos analisar alguns dos principais indicadores da evolução do estado de bem-estar social em países da OCDE entre 1980 e 2016. Em particular, buscamos avaliar se a crise iniciada em 2007-2008 teria implicado em contração do estado social. Nossa análise se desdobra no estudo do comportamento de três dimensões: o gasto social, seu financiamento tributário e sua efetividade. Nossa investigação revela que o século XXI tem sido um período de expansão, com gastos crescentes e "catch up" de países retardatários. Em particular, todas as grandes áreas de política social sofreram aumentos, ao lado de apostas ainda incipientes em políticas sociais "ativas". O gasto social tem sido financiado por um esforço tributário crescente, não de todo indiferente à progressividade, e tem se traduzido em crescente esforço de redistribuição. Contudo, desigualdades e pobreza avançam em ritmo superior.

Abstract In this paper an attempt was made to analyze some of the main indicators of the evolution of the welfare state in OECD countries between 1980 and 2016. In particular, an assessment was made to evaluate if the so-called Great Recession starting in 2008 led to a contraction of the social state. The analysis focused on three dimensions: social expenditure, funding, and effectiveness. The conclusion drawn was that the twenty-first century has been a period of expansion, both in terms of social expenditure and the catch-up of the latecomers. In particular, all traditional areas of social policy have expanded in tandem with a slight increase in "active" social policies. The rise in social expenditure has been financed by increasing taxation not thoroughly alien to progressivity principles. Overall, it has been translated into an increased effort for redistribution. However, inequality and poverty are advancing at a higher rate.

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In October 2010, the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP; Port au Prince, Haiti) reported a cholera epidemic caused by contamination of the Artibonite River by a United Nation Stabilization Mission camp. Interventional studies of the subsequent responses, including a descriptive Methods section and systematic approach, may be useful in facilitating comparisons and applying lessons learned to future outbreaks. The purpose of this study was to examine publicly available documents relating to the 2010 cholera outbreak to answer: (1) What information is publicly available on interventional studies conducted during the epidemic, and what was/were the impact(s)? and (2) Can the interventions be compared, and what lessons can be learned from their comparison? A PubMed (National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Maryland USA) search was conducted using the parameters "Haiti" and "cholera." Studies were categorized as "interventional research," "epidemiological research," or "other." A distinction was made between studies and narrative reports. The PubMed search yielded 171 papers, 59 (34.0%) of which were epidemiological and 12 (7.0%) were interventional studies. The remaining 100 papers (59.0%) comprised largely of narrative, anecdotal descriptions. An expanded examination of publications by the World Health Organization (WHO; Geneva, Switzerland), the Center for Research in the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED; Brussels, Belgium), United States Agency for International Development (USAID; Washington, DC USA)-Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC), and US National Library of Medicine's (NLM; Bethesda, Maryland USA) Disaster Literature databases yielded no additional interventional studies. The unstructured formats and differing levels of detail prohibited comparisons between interventions, even between those with a similar approach. Only two (17.0%) interventional studies included any impact data, although neither commented whether the intervention improved health or reduced incidence or mortality related to cholera. Agreed frameworks for guiding responses and subsequent reporting are needed to ensure reports contain sufficient detail to draw conclusions for the definition of best practices and for the design of future interventions. Miller J , Birnbaum ML . Characterization of interventional studies of the cholera epidemic in Haiti. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(2):176-181.

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RESUMEN Chile se encuentra en pleno proceso de transición demográfica y su población envejece rápidamente. Esta situación presenta múltiples desafíos de política pública, incluidos los del área de la salud pública. En concreto, la relación entre el envejecimiento y la pérdida de la autonomía exige diseñar con urgencia una política de cuidados a largo plazo en el país. El objetivo de este documento es describir el escenario actual de los cuidados a largo plazo en Chile usando la experiencia de los países de la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico, para poner de manifiesto la necesidad de avanzar en el diseño y el financiamiento de una política coordinada en el país, que permita afrontar con antelación los desafíos del envejecimiento en las próximas décadas.

ABSTRACT Chile is fully in the process of demographic transition, with a rapidly aging population. This situation poses multiple public policy challenges, including those in the public health sector. Specifically, the association between aging and the loss of autonomy calls for the rapid design of a long-term care policy in the country. The purpose of this article is to describe Chile's current situation with respect to long-term care in aging, using the experience of the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to draw attention to the need to move forward with the design and financing of a coordinated policy in the country that will permit early action to meet the challenges of aging in the coming decades.

RESUMO O Chile está em pleno processo de transição demográfica e a população do país está envelhecendo rapidamente. Esta situação apresenta vários desafios de políticas públicas, inclusive em saúde pública. Especificamente, a relação entre o envelhecimento e a perda de autonomia requer o planejamento com urgência de uma política de assistência a longo prazo no país. O objetivo deste documento é descrever o cenário atual de assistência a longo prazo diante do envelhecimento no Chile com base na experiência dos países da Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico a fim de evidenciar a necessidade de avançar no planejamento e financiamento de uma política coordenada que permita enfrentar com antecedência os desafios do envelhecimento no país nas próximas décadas.

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An international meeting of genetically modified (GM) food safety assessors from the main importing and exporting countries from Asia and the Americas was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between June 26(th) and 28(th), 2013. Participants shared their evaluation approaches, identified similarities and challenges, and used their experience to propose areas for future work. Recommendations for improving risk assessment procedures and avenues for future collaboration were also discussed. The deliberations of the meeting were also supported by a survey of participants which canvassed risk assessment approaches across the regions from which participants came. This project was initiated by Argentine Agri-Food Health and Quality National Service (SENASA, Ministry of Agriculture, Argentina), with the support of the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) and other partner institutions. The importance of making all possible efforts toward more integrated and harmonized regulatory oversight for GM organisms (GMOs) was strongly emphasized. This exercise showed that such harmonization is a feasible goal that would contribute to sustain a fluid trade of commodities and ultimately enhance food security. Before this can be achieved, key issues identified in this meeting will have to be addressed in the near future to enable regulatory collaboration or joint work. The authors propose that the recommendations coming out of the meeting should be used as a basis for continuing work, follow up discussions and concrete actions.

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This article explores issues of historical disputes between nurses and midwives based in Chile. The interaction of these two professions in that country has become an arena of competition which leads to conflicts periodically, such as those related to the ownership of the care of new-borns, and that of projects aimed at relieving nurse shortages by enhancing midwives' nursing skills. Specifically, this article aims to build on historical and contemporary resources analysed from a sociological perspective, and present comparatively a rationale concerning nursing/midwifery jurisdictional conflicts through a social history account. Our analysis suggests that nurses/midwives interaction has been shaped by social-historical transformations and the continuous evolution of the healthcare system as a whole, resulting in a race towards technologisation. These interprofessional conflicts can be explained partly by mechanisms of boundary expansion within an organisational/interpretive domain, as well as varying degrees of medicalisation; and partly by a competition possibly originating from a middle-class consciousness. An eventual merger of the two professions might lead to the enhancement of the political power of the caring professions and integrated care.

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Despite many successes in the region, Latin American vaccination policies have significant shortcomings, and further work is needed to maintain progress and prepare for the introduction of newly available vaccines. In order to address the challenges facing Latin America, the Commission for the Future of Vaccines in Latin America (COFVAL) has made recommendations for strengthening evidence-based policy-making and reducing regional inequalities in immunisation. We have conducted a comprehensive literature review to assess the feasibility of these recommendations. Standardisation of performance indicators for disease burden, vaccine coverage, epidemiological surveillance and national health resourcing can ensure comparability of the data used to assess vaccination programmes, allowing deeper analysis of how best to provide services. Regional vaccination reference schemes, as used in Europe, can be used to develop best practice models for vaccine introduction and scheduling. Successful models exist for the continuous training of vaccination providers and decision-makers, with a new Latin American diploma aiming to contribute to the successful implementation of vaccination programmes. Permanent, independent vaccine advisory committees, based on the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), could facilitate the uptake of new vaccines and support evidence-based decision-making in the administration of national immunisation programmes. Innovative financing mechanisms for the purchase of new vaccines, such as advance market commitments and cost front-loading, have shown potential for improving vaccine coverage. A common regulatory framework for vaccine approval is needed to accelerate delivery and pool human, technological and scientific resources in the region. Finally, public-private partnerships between industry, government, academia and non-profit sectors could provide new investment to stimulate vaccine development in the region, reducing prices in the long term. These reforms are now crucial, particularly as vaccines for previously neglected, developing-world diseases become available. In summary, a regionally-coordinated health policy will reduce vaccination inequality in Latin America.

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El 28 de enero de 2009 el Ministerio de Salud Pública de Cuba cumplió 100 años de su creación, el más antiguo del continente americano, y en ese marco se pretende describir la evolución y trascendencia de la colaboración médica cubana. Se fundamenta el desarrollo de la solidaridad desde la creación del Ministerio y como después de 1959 se convierte en un principio del Sistema Nacional de Salud. Se profundiza en las diferentes modalidades por la que ha transitado la colaboración médica y que se desarrollaron de acuerdo a las transformaciones económico-sociales del país, la evolución cronológica de la historia de la colaboración médica y docente junto con los diferentes elementos que incidieron en sus modificaciones y perfeccionamiento. Se exponen las perspectivas de esta colaboración en el siglo XXI, centrada en la formación de recursos humanos de la salud como única vía posible para alcanzar un desarrollo sostenible de la salud de las poblaciones(AU)

On January 28th 2009, the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba celebrated its 100th anniversary, being the oldest in the American continent. In this framework, it was intended to describe the evolution and importance of the Cuban medical co-operation and to substantiate the progress of solidarity since the inception of the Ministry and how this concept turned into a principle of the national healthcare system after the triumph of the Revolution. The different modalities of the medical co-operation, which developed according to the economic and social changes in the country, the chronological evolution of the history of the medical and teaching co-operation and the various elements that had an impact on the changes and the improvement of this co-operation were deeply analyzed. The prospects of this co-operation in the 21st century, centered on the formation of human resources in the field of healthcare, is the only possible way to attain sustainable development in the populationïs health(AU)

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El 28 de enero de 2009 el Ministerio de Salud Pública de Cuba cumplió 100 años de su creación, el más antiguo del continente americano, y en ese marco se pretende describir la evolución y trascendencia de la colaboración médica cubana. Se fundamenta el desarrollo de la solidaridad desde la creación del Ministerio y como después de 1959 se convierte en un principio del Sistema Nacional de Salud. Se profundiza en las diferentes modalidades por la que ha transitado la colaboración médica y que se desarrollaron de acuerdo a las transformaciones económico-sociales del país, la evolución cronológica de la historia de la colaboración médica y docente junto con los diferentes elementos que incidieron en sus modificaciones y perfeccionamiento. Se exponen las perspectivas de esta colaboración en el siglo XXI, centrada en la formación de recursos humanos de la salud como única vía posible para alcanzar un desarrollo sostenible de la salud de las poblaciones

On January 28th 2009, the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba celebrated its 100th anniversary, being the oldest in the American continent. In this framework, it was intended to describe the evolution and importance of the Cuban medical co-operation and to substantiate the progress of solidarity since the inception of the Ministry and how this concept turned into a principle of the national healthcare system after the triumph of the Revolution. The different modalities of the medical co-operation, which developed according to the economic and social changes in the country, the chronological evolution of the history of the medical and teaching co-operation and the various elements that had an impact on the changes and the improvement of this co-operation were deeply analyzed. The prospects of this co-operation in the 21st century, centered on the formation of human resources in the field of healthcare, is the only possible way to attain sustainable development in the populationïs health

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