This study aimed to analyse changes in the spatial distribution of Lutzomyia longipalpis in Posadas, an urban area located in northeastern Argentina. Data were obtained during the summer of 2007 and 2009 through two entomological surveys of peridomiciles distributed around the city. The abundance distribution pattern for 2009 was computed and compared with the previous pattern obtained in 2007, when the first human visceral leishmaniasis cases were reported in the city. Vector abundance was also examined in relation to micro and macrohabitat characteristics. In 2007 and 2009, Lu. longipalpis was distributed among 41.5% and 31% of the households in the study area, respectively. In both years, the abundance rates at most of the trapping sites were below 30 Lu. longipalpis per trap per night; however, for areas exhibiting 30-60 Lu. longipalpis and more than 60 Lu. longipalpis, the areas increased in both size and number from 2007-2009. Lu. longipalpis was more abundant in areas with a higher tree and bush cover (a macrohabitat characteristic) and in peridomiciles with accumulated unused material (a microhabitat characteristic). These results will help to prioritise and focus control efforts by defining which peridomiciles display a potentially high abundance of Lu. longipalpis.

The distribution of Lutzomyia longipalpis is heterogeneous with a pattern of high abundance areas (HAAs) embedded in a matrix of low abundance areas (LAAs). The objective of this study was to describe the variability in the abundance of Lu. longipalpis at two different spatial levels and to analyse the relationship between the abundance and multiple environmental variables. Of the environmental variables analysed in each household, the condition that best explained the differences in vector abundance between HAA-LAA was the variable "land_grass", with greater average values in the peridomestic environments within the LAA, and the variables "#sp tree", "#pots" and "dist_water" that were higher in the HAA. Of the environmental variables analysed in the patches, the variable "unpaved_streets" was higher in the LAAs and the variable "prop_inf_dogs" was higher in the HAAs. An understanding of the main environmental variables that influence the vector distribution could contribute to the development of strategies for the prevention and control of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). This is the first work in which environmental variables are analysed at the micro-scale in urban areas at the southern edge of the current range of Lu. longipalpis. Our results represent a significant contribution to the understanding of the abundance of the vector in the peridomestic habitats of the region.

Background: Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is the second most frequent cause of death in Chilean adults, accounting for 20^10% of cases. In patients with no clinical or trans thoracic echocardiographic (TTE) evidence of heart disease, transesophageal echo (TEE) may reveal the presence of complicated aortic plaques (CAP) as an etiologic factor for CVA. Aim: to evaluate clinical predictors of CAP that may help select patients for TEE in search for a cause of CVA. Method: 398 patients with ischemic CVA admitted to a general hospital from Jan 2008 through Dec 2010 were screened. 112 were excluded due to the presence of arrhythmia or an abnormal TTE. The remaining 286 patients underwent TEE in search of CAP. Clinical and echocardiographic findings were compared between patients with or without CAP Chi square, Fisher's exact test, Mann Whitney U test and binary logistic regression were used for analysis. Results: Aortic plaques were detected in 57% of patients, CAP being present in 11.2%. Multivariate analysis identified age above 60 years old (OR 6.23, p<0.001) and smoking habit (OR 4.89, p<0.001) as independent predictors of CAP. Conclusion: These findings suggest that TEE should be more strongly considered in the study of patients with CVA who are above 60 years old or smoke.

Introducción: El ACV es la segunda causa específica de muerte en nuestro país, siendo el origen cardioembólico responsable del 20% al 40% de los casos. En pacientes sin patología cardiovascular evidente, clínica o por ecocardiografía transtorácica (ETT), la identificación de la fuente embólica requiere la realización de ecocardiografía transesofágica (ETE), que puede confirmar la presencia de una placa aórtica complicada (PAC) como agente causal de este fenómeno. Objetivo: Evaluar cuales son los predictores clínicos para la presencia de PAC que permitan definir y estratificar aquellos pacientes que más se beneficien de la búsqueda cardioembólica mediante el ETE. Métodos: Se analizaron todos los pacientes con diagnóstico de ACV isquémico ingresados a nuestro hospital entre enero del 2008 a diciembre del 2010, co-!respondientes a 398 pacientes. Se excluyeron 112 por presentar historia de arritmias o tener ETT anormal. A los 286 pacientes restantes se les realizó un ETE, para analizar la presencia o no de PAC. Se compararon características clínicas y ecográficas entre aquellos con y sin PAC. Se utilizó chi-cuadrado, test exacto de Fisher, test U Mann Whitney y regresión logística binaria. Resultados: En los 286 pacientes el ETE detectó placas aórticas en 163 (57%) pacientes; de éstos, 32 (11.19 %) presentaban PAC. Por análisis multivariado se identificaron como predictores independientes de la presencia de PAC a la edad > 60 años (OR 6.232, p 0.001) y al tabaquismo (OR 4.893, p <0.001). Conclusiones: A la luz de estos resultados, se podría sugerir que en casos de AVE/TIA de pacientes en ritmo sinusal y sin cardiopatía evidente por ETT, se debería realizar ETE al menos en fumadores y en pacientes > de 60 años.

Phlebotomine captures were performed in February 2010 in Salto (Salto department) and Bella Unión-Cuarein (Artigas department), Uruguay. Bella Unión is located across the Paraná River from Monte Caseros, Argentina, where a focus of canine visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was reported in 2009. No VL cases have ever been recorded in Uruguay and the last reported capture of Phlebotominae was in 1932 (Lutzomyia cortelezzii and Lutzomyia gaminarai). Light traps were placed in peridomestic environments, and Lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis, was found in Salto and Bella Unión. This is a first report of an area of potential VL transmission in Uruguay. Active and coordinated surveillance is required immediately the Uruguay-Argentina-Brazil border area.

En este trabajo inicialmente se presentan diferentes formas de intervención y constructos que han sido relacionados con la capacidad de perdonar, destacando su importancia para la práctica psicoterapéutica y con el fin de promover un incremento en la misma. La evidencia empírica existente tiende hacia la posición de que el perdón está relacionado con el bienestar emocional, físico y psicológico de las personas, y que el modo de dotar de sentido a las experiencias influiría en el proceso de perdón. Se propone una alternativa para aumentar la capacidad de perdonar y se presentan resultados de un estudio experimental con 60 participantes, en el que se demuestran los efectos psicoterapéuticos que tiene la estimulación de la connotación positiva en el incremento del perdón. La variable independiente fue el tipo de dispositivo psicoterapéutico aplicado, y las variables dependientes fueron medidas con la Escala sobre la Capacidad de Perdonar (CAPER) que en su modalidad global evalúa la predisposición general de un sujeto para perdonar, y cuyas cuatro subescalas son: a) Self: evalúa la manera en que cada uno se enfrenta a situaciones negativas y cómo se percibe a sí mismo ante ellas; b) Otros: mide la manera en que cada uno se enfrenta a situaciones negativas relacionadas con las demás personas y cómo estas son percibidas, c) Situación: estudia la manera en que cada uno se enfrenta a situaciones, hechos o momentos negativos, y d) Creencias: examina creencias que son determinantes para perdonar.

This work presents different aspects that have been related to the aptitude to forgive, emphasizing its importance for the psychotherapeutic practice in order to promote an increase of such capacity. Existing empirical evidence tends to relate forgiveness to emotional, physical and psychological well-being of the persons, and shows that the way of providing sense to the experiences influences the process of forgiveness. An alternative to increase the aptitude to forgive is proposed and results of an experimental study with 60 patients demonstrate the psychotherapeutic effects of stimulating positive connotation in the increase of forgiveness. The independent variable was the type of psychotherapeutic approach applied and the dependant variables were measured with the Aptitude to Forgive Scale (CAPER) that evaluates the general predisposition of a subject to forgive, across four independent constructs: a) Self, b) Others, c) Situation, and d) Beliefs.