Scientific production and cancer-related collaboration networds in Peru 2000-2011: A bibliometric study in Scopus and Science Citation Index

A bibliometric study was carried out to describe the scientific production on cancer written by peruvians and published in international health journals, as well as to assess the scientific collaboration networks. It included articles on cancer written in Peru between the years 2000 and 2011 and published in health journals indexed in SCOPUS or Science Citation Index Expanded. In the 358 articles identified, an increase in the production was seen, from 4 articles in 2000 to 57 in 2011.The most studied types were cervical cancer (77 publications); breast cancer (53), and gastric cancer (37). The National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases (INEN) was the most productive institution (121 articles) and had the highest number of collaborations (180 different institutions). 52 clinical trials were identified, 29 of which had at least one author from INEN. We can conclude that, cancer research is increasing in Peru, the INEN being the most productive institution, with an important participation in clinical trials.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS)
URL: Full texthttp://hdl.handle.net/10757/311234

Latin American medical students’ appraisal on university scientific research training

Background: Learning research skills should be a goal during undergraduate training of physicians. Aim: To identify Latin American medical students’ appraisal on research skills university training. Material and Methods: A self-administered survey about experience in research, self-assessment of research skills, quality of training in the area received at the university and that importance of publishing as undergraduate students, was answered by 208 medical students aged 23 ± 3 years (54% male), attending a medical students congress. Results: Seventy percent of respondents pertained to medical students’ scientific societies and 34% had published in a scientific journal. Fifty two percent considered as good or very good the training level received at their universities on information retrieval and 45% considered good the training in research methodology. Thirty two percent considered as poor or none the training received in scientific writing and 37% in the publishing process. Eighty nine percent considered student publishing as important and 61% perceived limitations in this matter. Conclusions: The university training level received by Latin American medical students on research and publication process was evaluated as deficient by these students
Source: Sociedad Médica de Santiago
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Levels of quinolones resistance and other antimicrobial in non-pathogenic Escherichia coli strains in children from the periurban area of Lima, Peru

The proportion of resistance found to the evaluated antimicrobials was ampicillin (62.6%),

 cotrimoxazole (48,6%), tetracycline (43,0%) and chloramphenicol (15,8%). We emphasize the high resistance levels  found for quinolones: 32% for nalidixic acid (NAL) and 12% for ciprofloxacin (CIP). These high levels of quinoloneresistance  in non-pathogenic strains isolated from children in this age group highlight the extensive use and the impact of  the intake of this kind of antimicrobials in the community, showing the potential risk of the loss of their utility in the area.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS)

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Aflatoxin Contamination of Red Chili Pepper From Bolivia and Peru, Countries with High Gallbladder Cancer Incidence Rates

Chilean red chili peppers contaminated with aflatoxins were reported in a previous study. If the development of gallbladder cancer (GBC) in Chile is associated with a high level of consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated red chili peppers, such peppers from other countries having a high GBC incidence rate may also be contaminated with aflatoxins. We aimed to determine whether this might be the case for red chili peppers from Bolivia and Peru. A total of 7 samples (3 from Bolivia, 4 from Peru) and 3 controls (2 from China, 1 from Japan) were evaluated. Aflatoxins were extracted with acetonitrile:water (9:1, v/v) and eluted through an immuno-affinity column. The concentrations of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and then the detected aflatoxins were identified using HPLC-mass spectrometry. In some but not all of the samples from Bolivia and Peru, aflatoxin B1 or aflatoxins B1 and B2 were detected. In particular, aflatoxin B1 or total aflatoxin concentrations in a Bolivian samples were above the maximum levels for aflatoxins in spices proposed by the European Commission. Red chili peppers from Bolivia and Peru consumed by populations having high GBC incidence rates would appear to be contaminated with aflatoxins. These data suggest the possibility that a high level of consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated red chili peppers is related to the development of GBC, and the association between the two should be confirmed by a case-control study.
Source: Asian Pacific Organization for Cancer Prevetion
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La mujer y el Sida a fines del siglo XX

En las descripciones epidemiológicas del VIH/SIDA, en la mujer se ha dado una mezcla contradictoria de mucha y poca visibilidad de ella como tal, lo cual ha ido en detrimento de la misma. El estereotipo de la buena y la mala mujer ha influido considerablemente en la percepción que tiene la población de la relación existente entre la mujer y el VIH. Debido a los altos índices de infección existentes entre las trabajadoras sexuales en algunos países, se ha llegado a creer que el grueso de la infección se concentraba en este grupo, a pesar de que la mayoría de las pruebas indicaban lo contrario. Por ejemplo, el primer caso de SIDA registrado en Nigeria, fue el de una niña de 13 años y la primera mujer a la que se le diagnosticó el SIDA en México, fue una ama de casa de 52 años, cuya única conducta de riesgo conocida era el mantener relaciones sexuales con su marido sin utilizar condones.
Fuente:  Hontanar. Revista del Departamento de Estadística, Demografía, Humanidades y Ciencias 
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