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Colombia is a biodiverse country with 1,486 protected areas covering almost 50 million hectares, yet little is known about the biodiversity they harbor, particularly in terms of harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones). This study provides a comprehensive updated summary of the armored harvestmen (Laniatores) species found in Colombia with a list of 173 nominal species, focusing on the Laniatores fauna found in protected areas and its diversity is detailed and analyzed. Maps with all records associated with ecoregions and protected areas in Colombia are presented. Additionally, three new Laniatores species are described here: Phalangodusandresisp. nov. from the department of Cundinamarca, and Ventrifurcaphallainasp. nov. and Ampycellafortunatasp. nov. from the department of Valle del Cauca; and a new family assignment is proposed for Paraphalangodus Roewer, 1915, placing it in the family Nomoclastidae. Information available on Laniatores in the National System of Protected Areas is still scarce and promoting strategies to facilitate the regulatory procedures for collecting specimens in these areas and increasing investment in basic science projects, are suggested to improve the understanding and study of the Laniatores fauna and other invertebrates in Colombia. Finally, a chronicle and timeline set of figures of species of Laniatores from Colombia, described by various authors during three periods, is given.

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Understanding the interspecific morphological variability of Caquetaia kraussii (Perciformes: Cichlidae) between different localities in its distribution range is becoming essential, as this species constitutes a valuable resource for the economy and subsistence of the local human communities where it is endemic in Colombia and Venezuela. In order to develop efficient farming and handling plans for this species, a deep understanding of the factors and mechanisms generating morphological variability is crucial. This study analyzes the morphological variability of C. kraussii by using geometric morphometrics in four localities distributed between the Dique and North channels, which are part of the Bolívar department in Colombia. Likewise, the effect of environmental variables such as temperature (T°), dissolved oxygen (OD) and pH on morphological variability was analyzed using a partial least squares approach. The results show that environmental stress has an influence on ~10% of the body shape of C. kraussii, whereas ~90% of the body shape is not directly influenced by environmental parameters, suggesting an effect from stress related to sexual dimorphism. Similarly, the analyses show shape variation among localities, mainly between populations of lotic environments and those of lentic environments. This morphological disparity seems to be subject to environmental and sexual stresses in the different localities.

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A new species of the armored spider genus Caraimatta Lehtinen, 1981 from Colombian Tropical dry forest fragments is described and illustrated: Caraimatta brescoviti sp. nov. (based on male and female) from Bolivar and Sucre departments, representing the first record of the genus from Colombia. Additionally, photographs of Monoblemma muchmorei Shear, 1978 (other tetrablemmid species previously recorded from the country) are given. A map with the known distribution and an identification key for males and females of the Caraimatta species are also included.

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Prebiotic effects of Agave salmiana fructans at five different doses were evaluated by the growth of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Clostridium strains and SCFA production in the cecum and proximal colon of healthy Wistar rats. Mucosal integrity, bacterial proliferation, and inflammatory response were also examined. Growth of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains was improved by 12.5% doses of fructans in both cecum and proximal colon tissues, and a significant decrease of Clostridium (P < 0.05) was observed. Increases in mucosal thickness, proliferation, and cell adhesion were mainly observed in the cecum. High concentration of butyric acid and total SCFA were contained in the 12.5% doses. This study provides direct evidence of the prebiotic effects of Agave salmiana fructans, demonstrating that a diet supplemented with a 12.5% dose of fructans promotes major growth of probiotic bacteria and could be used as a potential prebiotic ingredient under the conditions used in this study. Taken together, these results further indicate the significance of Agave salmiana fructans as a prebiotic ingredient in the regulation and prevention of gastrointestinal diseases, as well as for the design of functional foods.

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OBJECTIVE: Because of high variability, tear film osmolarity measures have been questioned in dry eye assessment. Understanding the origin of such variability would aid data interpretation. This study aims to evaluate osmolarity variability in a clinical setting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty dry eyes and 20 control patients were evaluated. Three consecutive osmolarity measurements per eye at 5min intervals were obtained. Variability was represented by the difference between both extreme readings per eye. Machine learning techniques were used to quantify discrimination capacity of tear osmolarity for dry eye. RESULTS: Mean osmolarities in the control and dry eye groups were 295.1±7.3mOsm/L and 300.6±11.2mOsm/L, respectively (P=.004). Osmolarity variabilities were 7.5±3.6mOsm/L and 16.7±11.9mOsm/L, for the control and dry eye groups, respectively (P<.001). Based on osmolarity, a logistic classifier showed an 85% classification accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: In the clinical setting, both mean osmolarity and osmolarity variability in the dry eye group were significantly higher than in the control group. Machine learning techniques showed good classification accuracy. It is concluded that higher variability of tear osmolarity is a dry eye feature.

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Herein, we describe a new schizomid species from the genus Piaroa Villarreal, Giuponni Tourinho, 2008, Piaroa turbacoensis sp. nov., based on individuals collected in the Botanical Garden "Guillermo Piñeres", Turbaco, Bolivar, Colombian Caribbean region. Piaroa turbacoensis is the sixth species of the genus to be found in Colombia, and the tenth to be found with regards to the genus as a whole. This species is the first Colombian species to be recorded in a Dry Tropical Forest biome. Piaroa turbacoensis is easily distinguishable by the presence of spermathecae lateral lobes with massive circular stalk bases, and male pedipalp with ventroectal truncate process over the femur and ventroectal depression over the patella. Here, we provide an updated distribution map of the genus and comments about the natural history of the new species.

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The lateral septum (LS), a brain structure implicated in addictive behaviours, regulates the activation of dopaminergic neurones in the ventral tegmental area. Vasopressinergic projections from the extended amygdala to the LS, which are sexually dimorphic, could be responsible for the vulnerability to addiction in a sex-dependent manner. The present study aimed to investigate the modulatory effects of amphetamine (AMPH) on the expression of vasopressin (AVP) in the vasopressinergic extra-hypothalamic system in sensitised male and female rats. Adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent an AMPH-locomotor sensitisation protocol. Acute AMPH increased AVP mRNA expression in the medial amygdala (MeA), whereas AMPH-induced sensitisation increased AVP mRNA expression in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) only in females. Interestingly, the increase in AVP expression in BNST was higher in oestrus females compared to dioestrus females and acute AMPH resulted in a decrease in AVP levels in the LS, only in males. Thus, there are complex and region-specific interactions between AMPH and the extra-hypothalamic vasopressinergic system in the brain, underlying possible alterations in different behaviours caused by acute and chronic AMPH exposure.

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Resistance phenotypes characterized by minimum inhibitory concentration, disk diffusion and beta-lactamase production were determined in 434 isolates from patients attending the Sexually Transmitted Disease Service at Dr. José Maria Cullen Hospital in Santa Fe, Argentina. Susceptibility tests to penicillin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, espectinomycin, azithromycin and ceftriaxone were performed. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was conducted made to on three ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates. Epidemiologically speaking, three interesting events should be highlighted: during 1997, plasmid-mediated high level tetracycline-resistant strains were observed (33.3%); from 2002 to 2004 a significant increase of plasmid-mediated penicillin-resistant strains was registered (9.7% to 34.8%); and in the year 2000 the first two quinolone-resistant strains emerged in the province. In our hospital, the first azithromycin-resistant isolate emerged in 2004. We therefore emphasize the importance of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory in order to provide information for the empiric treatment of this infection.

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Se determinaron los fenotipos de resistencia caracterizados por la concentración inhibitoria mínima, la difusión con discos y la producción de β-lactamasa de 434 aislamientos de Neisseria gonorrhoeae obtenidos de pacientes atendidos en el Servicio de Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual del Hospital Dr. José María Cullen, Santa Fe, Argentina. Se realizaron pruebas de sensibilidad a los siguientes antimicrobianos: penicilina, tetraciclina, ciprofloxacina, espectinomicina, azitromicina y ceftriaxona. A tres aislamientos resistentes a ciprofloxacina se les realizó electroforesis de campo pulsado. Se destacaron tres situaciones epidemiológicas de interés: en el año 1997, alta incidencia de aislamientos con resistencia plasmídica a tetraciclina (33,3%); en el período 2002-2004, un aumento significativo de la resistencia plasmídica a penicilina (9,7% a 34,8%); y en el año 2000, la emergencia de dos de los tres primeros aislamientos con resistencia a quinolonas del país. El primer aislamiento resistente a azitromicina en nuestro hospital emerge en el 2004. Este trabajo jerarquiza el rol del Laboratorio de Microbiología Clínica en la orientación del tratamiento empírico de la gonorrea.

Resistance phenotypes characterized by minimum inhibitory concentration, disk diffusion and β-lactamase production were determined in 434 isolates from patients attending the Sexually Transmitted Disease Service at Dr. José María Cullen Hospital in Santa Fe, Argentina. Susceptibility tests to penicillin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, espectinomycin, azithromycin and ceftriaxone were performed. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was conducted made to on three ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates. Epidemiologically speaking, three interesting events should be highlighted: during 1997, plasmid-mediated high level tetracycline-resistant strains were observed (33.3%); from 2002 to 2004 a significant increase of plasmid-mediated penicillin-resistant strains was registered (9.7% to 34.8%); and in the year 2000 the first two quinolone-resistant strains emerged in the province. In our hospital, the first azithromycin-resistant isolate emerged in 2004. We therefore emphasize the importance of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory in order to provide information for the empiric treatment of this infection.

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BACKGROUND: The mechanism of the action of methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of psoriasis has not been completely elucidated. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of MTX on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, activation molecule CD69 and T-cell phenotype in skin specimens from patients with psoriasis. METHODS: We performed an immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of T-cell phenotype and cell adhesion/activation molecules in skin biopsies from patients with psoriasis treated with a fixed dose of MTX (12.5 mg/week). To determine data on the epidermal/dermal T-cell infiltration we carried out a manual quantification. RESULTS: Skin samples prior to therapy showed a moderate to severe inflammatory infiltrate, mainly due to T lymphocytes with a helper/inducer (CD4) phenotype. Most of these cells also expressed ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Blood vessels showed expression of E-selectin and VCAM-1, and keratinocytes were positive for ICAM-1 staining. The cell infiltrate was reduced after therapy, as well as the expression of cell adhesion molecules. However, we also noted the persistence of the T lymphocyte phenotype CD8(+), expressing the CD69 activation molecule, after the MTX treatment. CONCLUSIONS: MTX downregulates the expression of some adhesion molecules, a phenomenon that may contribute to its anti-inflammatory therapeutic effect in psoriasis. The infiltrating T cells post-treatment have an activated cytotoxic phenotype, which may suggest a pathogenic role in the continuation and/or recurrence of psoriasis.

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Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates represents a serious problem to low and media level microbiology labs. In this work cefoxitin (FOX) and cefotaxime (CTX) screen plates (AS) (8-16 microg/ml) with and without 4% of NaCl were evaluated to detect MRSA. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were determined. The AS oxacillin and the agglutination test MRSA-Screen Latex for the detection of PLP2a were used as reference methods for the evaluation of the different studied screening plates. The 100% (94 strains) PLP2a positive were detected as MRSA with FOX (8 microg/ml), and CTX (8 microg/ml with 4% NaCl) AS. The advantage of FOX AS (8 microg/ml) is that it does not need the addition of NaCl, and CTX AS (8 microg/ml with 4% NaCl) is that cefotaxime is an antimicrobial easily accessible in our country.

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Argentina and Uruguay are countries with high mortality rates for colorectal cancer. In the Province of Santa Fe, colorectal cancer ranks as third when considering cancer as the cause of death. The aim in this study was to compare the mortality rates for colorectal cancer in the Province for a 10 year period. The mortality rates for 1985-1987 and 1995-1997 were 17.2% an 19.1% respectively. There was no significant difference with the mortality rates during that decade our study encompasses.

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Argentina y Uruguay son países con altos índices de mortalidad por cáncer de colon. En la Provincia deSanta Fé, el cáncer de colon ocupa el tercer lugar como causa de muerte debido a enfermedades neoplásicas. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue comparar las tasas de mortalidad debidas al cáncer de colon en nuestra Provincia en el transcurso de 10 años. Se determinó una tasa de mortalidad de un 17,2 por ciento y 19,1 por ciento para los períodos 1985-1987 y 1995-1997 respectivemente. No hubo diferencias estadisticamente significativas en las tasas de mortalidad luego de transcurrido una década.

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Argentina and Uruguay are countries with high mortality rates for colorectal cancer. In the Province of Santa Fe, colorectal cancer ranks as third when considering cancer as the cause of death. The aim in this study was to compare the mortality rates for colorectal cancer in the Province for a 10 year period. The mortality rates for 1985-1987 and 1995-1997 were 17.2

an 19.1

respectively. There was no significant difference with the mortality rates during that decade our study encompasses.

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Argentina y Uruguay son países con altos índices de mortalidad por cáncer de colon. En la Provincia deSanta Fé, el cáncer de colon ocupa el tercer lugar como causa de muerte debido a enfermedades neoplásicas. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue comparar las tasas de mortalidad debidas al cáncer de colon en nuestra Provincia en el transcurso de 10 años. Se determinó una tasa de mortalidad de un 17,2 por ciento y 19,1 por ciento para los períodos 1985-1987 y 1995-1997 respectivemente. No hubo diferencias estadisticamente significativas en las tasas de mortalidad luego de transcurrido una década. (Au)

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Esophagus cancer has a very bad pathological prognosis. Risk factors considered are: smoking consumption and deficiency of vitamins A and C. The mortality rates of cancer of the stomach vary notably according to geographic region. Factors such as genetics, races, smoking, socioeconomic conditions are some of stomach cancer development. 646 symptomatic patients were studied in the gastroenterology unit at. J.M. Cullen hospital. Histopathologically, 22 (3.3%) cancer of the esophagus and 13 (2%) cancers of stomach were detected. All esophagus cancers were squamous cells; 82% were males and 18% females. 50% were located on the middle third zone. 92.3% of stomach cancers were adenocarcinoma; 83% were males and 17% females. A 50.8% were located in corporo-fundic zone. All the cancers both of the esophagus as well as of the stomach, were in the advanced phase. The cancer of esophagus has appeared most frequently among cancers of the tract in our hospital, with significant difference among province and national registers.

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El cáncer de esófago es una patología de muy mal pronóstico. Son considerados factores de riesgo: alcohol, tabaco, deficiencia en vitaminas A y C. etc. La mortalidad por cáncer de estómago varía notablemente de acuerdo a la región geográfica. Los factores genéticos, étnicos, el tabaquismo y socioeconómicos son algunas de las causas involucradas en el desarrollo del cáncer de estómago. Se estudiaron 646 pacientes sintomáticos que concurrían a la sección de gastroenterología del Hospital J.M. Cullen. Se diagnosticó Histopatológicamente, 22 (3,3 por ciento) cánceres de esófago y 13 (2 por ciento) cánceres de estómago. Todos los cánceres de esófago eran epidermoideo. 82 por ciento eran varones y un 18 por ciento mujeres. Un 50 por ciento tenían ubicación en el tercio medio. El 92,3 por ciento de los cánceres de estómago eran adenocarcinomas. 83 por ciento eran masculinos y 17 por ciento femininos. El 50,8 por ciento estaban localizados en la región corporo-fúndica. Todos los cánceres tanto el de esófago como el de estómago estaban en estadio avanzado. El cáncer de esófago se presentó con mayor frecuencia dentro de los cánceres del tracto digestivo en nuestro hospital, diferencia significativa con los registros provinciales y nacionales.

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El cáncer de esófago es una patología de muy mal pronóstico. Son considerados factores de riesgo: alcohol, tabaco, deficiencia en vitaminas A y C. etc. La mortalidad por cáncer de estómago varía notablemente de acuerdo a la región geográfica. Los factores genéticos, étnicos, el tabaquismo y socioeconómicos son algunas de las causas involucradas en el desarrollo del cáncer de estómago. Se estudiaron 646 pacientes sintomáticos que concurrían a la sección de gastroenterología del Hospital J.M. Cullen. Se diagnosticó Histopatológicamente, 22 (3,3 por ciento) cánceres de esófago y 13 (2 por ciento) cánceres de estómago. Todos los cánceres de esófago eran epidermoideo. 82 por ciento eran varones y un 18 por ciento mujeres. Un 50 por ciento tenían ubicación en el tercio medio. El 92,3 por ciento de los cánceres de estómago eran adenocarcinomas. 83 por ciento eran masculinos y 17 por ciento femininos. El 50,8 por ciento estaban localizados en la región corporo-fúndica. Todos los cánceres tanto el de esófago como el de estómago estaban en estadio avanzado. El cáncer de esófago se presentó con mayor frecuencia dentro de los cánceres del tracto digestivo en nuestro hospital, diferencia significativa con los registros provinciales y nacionales. (AU)

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El estudio se realizó para conocer el grado de satisfacción de los pacientes hospitalizados en el Servicio de Cirugía del Hospital San Juan de Dios, así como la calidad de la información entregada. Se entrevistaron 163 enfermos y al analizar los datos recogidos, se aprecia un alto porcentaje de satisfacción de los usuarios en cuanto a la atención e información recibidas

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