Background & objectives:Chronic exposure to pesticides can damage DNA and lead to cancer, diabetes, respiratory diseases and neurodegenerative and neurodevelopment disorders. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of DNA damage through the comet assay and micronucleus (MN) test in two groups of children, under 10 yr of age living in rural Paraguay and in relation to pesticide exposure.Methods:Two groups of 5 to 10 yr old children were formed; the exposed group (group A, n=43), born and currently living in a community dedicated to family agriculture and surrounded by transgenic soybean crops, and the control group (group B, n=41), born and living in a community dedicated to family agriculture with biological control of pests. For each child, 2000 cells were studied for the MN test and 200 cells for the comet assay.Results:The comparison between exposed and control children revealed significant differences in biomarkers studied for the measurement of genetic damage (cell death and DNA damage). The median of MN was higher in the exposed group (6 vs. 1) (P<0.001). Binucleated cells (2.9 vs. 0.5, P<0.001); broken eggs (5.5 vs. 1.0, P<0.001); karyorrhexis (6.7 vs. 0.5, P<0.001); kariolysis (14.0 vs. 1.0, P<0.001); pyknosis (7.4 vs. 1.2, P<0.001) and condensed chromatin (25.5 vs. 7.0, P<0.001) were significantly higher in the exposed group. The values of tail length (59.1 vs 37.2 μm); tail moment (TM) (32.8 vs. 14.4 μm); TM olive (15.5 vs. 6); % DNA tail (45.2 vs. 27.6) and % DNA head (54.8 vs. 72.4), were significantly different between the two groups.Interpretations & conclusions:In children exposed to pesticides, a greater genotoxic and cytotoxic effect was observed compared to non-exposed children. Our findings suggest that monitoring of genetic toxicity in population exposed to pesticides and agrochemicals should be done.

Objetivo: Determinar la calidad del sueño en estudiantes de Medicina de la Universidad Católica “Nuestra Señora de la Asunción”, Asunción-Paraguay, 2015. Metodología: Estudio analítico de corte transversal. Se encuestó a 270 estudiantes de ambos sexos y oficialmente matriculados de primer a sexto año. Se utilizó la encuesta del Índice de Calidad del Sueño de Pittsburgh (ICSP). Resultados: Se analizaron 248 encuestas, 155 (62,5%) del sexo femenino y 93 (37,5%) del sexo masculino, las edades comprendidas fueron de 18 a 35 años, con una media de 22,2 ± 2,6 años. Según dicho Índice, 65 personas (26,21 %), con una puntuación menor o igual a 5 se les asignó la calidad de Buenos Soñadores y 183 personas (73,79%), con una puntuación mayor a 5, a los que se les asignó la calidad de Malos Soñadores. El 49,18% de los malos soñadores realizan actividades antes de dormir que pudieran interferir en la calidad del sueño. Conclusión: Los estudiantes de Medicina de la Universidad Católica “Nuestra Señora de la Asunción” Sede Asunción, tienen un alto porcentaje de Mala Calidad de sueño según el Índice de Calidad del Sueño de Pittsburgh.   Palabras Clave: Estudiantes de Medicina, sueño, Paraguay.