Background: A low hand grip strength is a prognostic factor both in healthy people and hospitalized subjects. Local normal hand grip strength values are needed to define cutoff points of abnormality. Aim: To measure handgrip strength in Chilean people aged 20 to 70 years and propose normal values for healthy people in this age range. Material and Methods: Handgrip strength was measured using a JAMAR hydraulic dynamometer in 436 males and 465 females aged 20 to 70 years and who were free of disease. They were recruited from waiting rooms in several public and private hospitals and outpatient clinics, under self-evaluation of inclusion criteria. Results: The variability of the handgrip strength in women was smaller in than men. Tables containing handgrip strength values by age and sex and the ranges between three standard deviations were prepared. Conclusions: This study contributes with normal handgrip strength values in Chile to be used for the diagnosis and management of various conditions, such sarcopenia, obesity, oncological patients, Intensive Care Unit acquired weakness (ICU-aw) and weaning of mechanical ventilation.

A promoção de megaobras é comumente baseada em idéias de desenvolvimento e de progresso. Contudo, o informe apresentado pela Comissão Mundial de Represas em novembro de 2000, responsabilizou às grandes barragens, os projetos de desenvolvimento regional sustentável por excelência, como geradoras de uma série de danos sociais e ambientais. Destarte, o objetivo do artigo é estudar e analisar as transformações sociais ocorridas nas comunidades de ilhéus e ribeirinhos de Ituzaingó a partir das mudanças na paisagem ecológica decorrentes da construção da Usina Hidrelétrica de Yacyretá (Corrientes, Argentina). Desse modo, analisaram-se as características gerais da barragem e as principais contradições ambientais e sociais percebidas na cidade e na comunidade de pescadores-lavradores. Os resultados mostraram, por um lado, que para os ex-ilhéus e ex-ribeirinhos não há medida de mitigação capaz de compensar a perda do seu anterior modo de vida, por outro, uma clara falta de seriedade nas políticas socioambientais de Yacyretá. E ainda, um escasso ou nulo desenvolvimento de Ituzaingó e região após a construção da barragem.

The promotions of mega-constructions are usually based in ideas of development and progress. However, the report showed by the World Commission on Dams in November of 2000, responsabilized the big reservoirs, main projects on sustainable regional development, as generators of social and environmental damages. Thus, the main objective of the present study was to investigate the social transformations in the communities of the islanders and riparian people from Ituzaingó, from the changes in the ecological landscape since the constructions of the hydroelectric power plants of Yacyretá (Corrientes, Argentina). Thereby, were analyzed the general characteristics of the dam and the main environmental and social contradictions detected in the city and in the traditional communities of the islanders and riparian people. The results showed, in a way, for the ex-islanders and ex-riparian people any mitigation measure is not able to compensate the loss of his previous way of life; and on the other hand, the lack of serious social and environmental politics of Yacyretá dam, and besides of this, a small or no development of Ituzaingó and region after construction of the dam.

Objective: Native newborns from three Andean cities located in Peru: namely Cerro de Pasco, Huancayo and Puno, with altitudes ranging from 10,000 to 14,000 feet above sea level, were screened for abnormal hemoglobins. Material and methods: With the participation of medical personnel in hospitals located in these cities, it was possible to screen a total of 234 newborn babies, Heel stick blood samples obtained were inmediately hemolyzed, refrigerated for few weeks and later analyzed by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography (Waters and BioRad) screening procedures. Results: This results indicated that the newborn babies tested had normal hemoglobin profiles. Conclusion: No abnormal hemoglobin variants were detected in these samples at the initial screening. (Rev Med Hered 1997; 8:87-91).

Se hizo un muestreo para detectar hemoglobinas anormales en Recién Nacidos (RN) de tres ciudades andinas situadas en el Perú: Cerro de Pasco, Huancayo y Puno. Estas ciudades estan situadas en altitudes que fluctúan entre los 3,500 a 4,400 m. sobre el nivel del mar. Objetivo: Investigar la presencia, de hemoglobinas anormales en RN nativos de altura. Material y Métodos: Participaron un total de 234 RN. Se obtuvieron muestras de sangre del talón que fueron inmediatamente hemolizadas y refrigeradas para luego ser analizadas mediante electroforesis de punto isoeléctrico y cromatografía líquida de alto rendimiento. Resultados: Los resultados indicaron que los RN tenían perfil de hemoglobina normal (Hb A/F). Conclusiones: En estas muestras, que corresponden a una evaluación piloto, no se detectó ninguna variante anormal de hemoglobina, ni hemoglobinas de migración rápida (Hb H, Hb Bart’s). (Rev Med Hered 1997; 8:87-91).