Background & methodsBlastocystis sp. is one of the most prevalent unicellular eukaryote of the human large intestine in Chile and worldwide. It is classified in subtypes (STs), where using the polymorphic sequences of its 18S rRNA genes currently recognizes 22. STs 1–9 and ST12 have been reported in humans. It has been hypothesized that different STs of Blastocystis sp. differentially affect the clinical severity of the digestive disease in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) patients, but more studies ar4e needed to establish this statement. To contribute in the elucidation of the potential relationship between Blastocystis sp. subtypes and IBS severity, 37 IBS patient fecal samples were collected at hospitals in Santiago (Chile) and were screened for the presence of vacuolated forms of Blastocystis sp. by using conventional microscopy. Positive samples were submitted to PCR and sequencing for determining STs. The same procedure was performed in fecal samples from five non-IBS Blastocystis sp. carriers for preliminary comparative purpose.Results and discussionFour out of the 37 samples from the IBS patients were found positive for Blastocystis sp. (10.81%) by using microscopy. The presence of this microorganism in these four samples were confirmed by PCR and sequencing. Subtypes and their respective closest match alleles were searched and the ST1, ST2 and ST4 subtypes were found in these patients. ST4 subtype is scarcely detected in South America countries, being reported previously only in Colombia and Brazil. In this ST4 subtype we determined the allele 42 which is the most frequent allele observed in human Blastocystis isolates. In the non-IBS individuals' carriers, three subtypes were found: ST1, ST2 and ST3, even belonging to the same family group. Closest match alleles: 2, 12 and 34 here detected were also commonly reported globally. Instead of the small number of IBS patients studied here, the frequency of blastocystosis detected (10.81%) was lower than the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infections described for the Chilean general population (30.4%). In Chile, clear correlation of Blastocystis sp. subtypes and IBS severity is still lacking with this study but it may lead and contribute to a better understanding of its pathogenicity and worldwide epidemiology.

Introduction Oxygen therapy through a high-flow nasal cannula is thought to improve the work of breathing and the comfort of patients with acute bronchiolitis. It is widely used in hospital wards and critical care of pediatric patients. However, there is uncertainty on the magnitude of the effect on critical and important outcomes in these patients. Objectives The objective of this review is to evaluate the available evidence on the use of oxygen administered through high-flow cannula versus low-flow oxygen for the treatment of acute bronchiolitis in children under two years of age. Methodology We carried out a systematic review and a meta-analysis following the PRISMA standards for reporting. The search was carried out in electronic databases by two researchers independently. The evidence was summarized using the GRADE methodology. Results Six randomized and non-randomized clinical trials were included, including 1867 individuals younger than 24 months of age with acute bronchiolitis in pediatric emergency, hospitalization, and intensive care services. Mortality was not reported in the included studies. Treatment failure occurred in 108/933 in the high flow group and 233/934 in the low flow group (relative risk: 0.46; 95% confidence interval: 0.35 to 0.62), which shows 11.7% less treatment failure (95% confidence interval between 7.9% and 14.5% less) in the high flow group with a number needed to treat of 7.5 (95% confidence interval 6 to 10) with moderate certainty in the evidence. Conclusion The use of humidified and heated oxygen with high flow compared to oxygen at low flow is probably associated with decreased treatment failure in children younger than two years with acute bronchiolitis. There is uncertainty about the effect on hospitalization days and clinical progression.

Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la prevalencia de hipovitaminosis D en los candidatos a cirugía bariátrica (CB) y su relación con factores de riesgo y los componentes del síndrome metabólico. Material y métodos: los parámetros clínicos, antropométricos y bioquímicos se midieron en 56 pacientes caucásicos incluidos en un protocolo de cirugía bariátrica entre enero y junio de 2014. Los pacientes fueron estratificados en tres grupos de acuerdo al status de vitamina D: suficiencia (≥ 40 ng/ml), insuficiencia (40-20 ng/ml) y deficiencia (< 20 ng/ml). Resultados: se observó deficiencia de vitamina D en el 75% de los pacientes. Estos pacientes tenían mayor índice de masa corporal (p = 0,006) y concentraciones plasmáticas mas bajas de PTH (p = 0,045). Además, hubo más pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) y dislipemia (DLPM) en el grupo con niveles de 25 (OH) D < 20 ng/ml. Asimismo la 25 (OH) D se correlacionó negativamente con la masa grasa (r =-0,504; p = 0,009), el IMC (r =-0,394; p = 0,046) y la hipertensión arterial (r =-0,637; p = 0,001). Conclusión: De nuestros hallazgos concluimos que la deficiencia de vitamina D es muy común entre los candidatos a CB y que la misma está asociada con DM2 y DLPM. Aunque hay pocos datos sobre el mejor tratamiento para el bajo nivel de vitamina D en los pacientes candidatos CB, la detección de la deficiencia de vitamina D debe realizarse de forma rutinaria en estos casos. 25-hydroxy vitamin D and syndrome metabolic components in candidates to bariatric surgery Vitamina D y componentes del síndrome metabólico en candidatos a cirugía bariátrica

RESUMEN Las úlceras por presión (UPP) y úlceras venosas (UV) son frecuentes en adultos y adultos mayores. En Chile un 70% de las heridas crónicas corresponden a UV y la prevalencia de UPP en pacientes hospitalizados es de 28%. El objetivo de esta revisión es analizar la evidencia disponible respecto al tratamiento nutricional de individuos con UPP y UV. Estas úlceras tienen diferentes etiologías, pero ambas provocan un aumento de requerimientos energéticos, proteicos y de micronutrientes. La cicatrización de heridas depende de varios factores como: el tipo de úlcera, estado nutricional, patologías presentes, el tipo de curación y el tratamiento médico. La terapia nutricional establece en la mantención o aumento de peso de estos pacientes, administración adecuada de proteínas y suplementación de energía, proteínas o micronutrientes cuando se presente déficit. Palabras clave: Nutrición; Suplementos nutricionales; Úlcera por presión; Úlcera venosa.

Abstract. About 45 000 absolute and semi-absolute observations of right ascension of the FK4 stars were obtained during [1963][1964][1965][1966][1967][1968][1969][1970][1971][1972]. The observations were made with the three instruments of the Cerro Calan Observatory jointly by Chilean and Soviet astronomers. As a result, systematic A(x d cos8 errors were found to exist in the FK4 catalogue. For the reduction of star observations according to the SRS program, it is necessary to derive the system of the AOL corrections for the FK4.