Extracts of seven medicinal plants used specifically against cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Madre de Dios region of Peru were evaluated in vitro against promastigote and axenic amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis. One of them showed interesting leishmanicidal activities (IC 50 = 5 g/ml in amastigotes). Bio-guided isolation of the stem bark's ethanol extract of Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce ex Müll. Arg.) Woodson (Apocynaceae) afforded the spirolactone iridoids isoplumericin and plumericin. The latter showed a reduction of macrophage infection similar to that of the reference drug Amphotericin B (IC 50 = 0.9 and 1 M, respectively). These findings validate the traditional use of Himatanthus sucuuba in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (Uta) in Peru.

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Con el objetivo de encontrar aceites esenciales que puedan ser usados como atrayentes orepelentes de Thrips tabaci, una plaga que afecta al espárrago, en el presente trabajo seestudia la composición química de los aceites esenciales de 10 plantas aromáticas peruanas:Jungia paniculata (DC.) A. Gray, Piper hispidum Sw., Ambrosia arborescens Mill.,Ambrosia peruviana Willd., Luma chequen (Feuillée ex Molina) A. Gray., Minthostachyssetosa (Briq.) Epling, Lepechinia meyenii (Walp.) Epl., Ruta chalepensis L., Ruta graveolensL., Aristolochia silvatica Barb. Rod. Se reporta por primera vez la composición de los aceitesesenciales de J. paniculata (“matico de la sierra”), A. peruviana (“marco hembra”), L. meyenii(“pachasalvia”) y A. silvatica (“huampishcuna”).

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A survey of 53 university and community hospitals revealed that 73% of the institutions had no standard policy for the replacement of triple-lumen catheters (TLCs). Since the mainte nance of a TLC in place for a prolonged period may lead to infectious complications, it appeared warranted that standards of management be developed. A decision-tree model was constructed for evaluating the optimal time for changing a TLC that would minimize infection. Cost estimates and health effects at three-, five-, and ten-day change intervals were considered for catheter insertion and complications resulting from such insertion. The results suggested that prophylactic catheter changes should occur no later than every five days, provided that there are no signs of infection. However, sensitivity analysis of several variables suggested that individual institutions should establish policy timing changes based upon careful interpretation of their own data. A model was developed to assist in determining the optimal time to change a TLC based upon such data. Key words: triple-lumen catheter; catheter-related infection; sepsis; decision analysis. (Med Decis Making 1995;15:138-142)