Objective Applying statistical process control (SPC) charts in perinatal mortality surveillance (as an epidemiological indicator). Method The control charts were prepared using 51,840 births; 286 cases were produced from these births. All information came from SUSALUD between January 2004 and December 2007. Two control charts are presented; the first one's central line was considered to be the proportion of cases + 3 SD and the second one used the logits from the percentages of cases. Results Two control charts were prepared for monitoring perinatal mortality. The first considered the percentage of cases per month and an average of five cases per one thousand births was obtained (p=0.005). The logits were used for the second chart. Conclusions Having SPC charts available for monitoring and analysing perinatal mortality will allow changes in service quality to be quickly detected and let aspects regarding the quality of the service being provided for mothers and the newborn to be evaluated. Specific interventions can also be programmed.

Objetivo Aplicar la metodología de las cartas de control estadístico de procesos (SPC) en la vigilancia de la mortalidad perinatal, indicador de la salud materno-perinatal. Método Las cartas de control fueron elaboradas utilizando 286 muertes perinatales y los 51 840 nacimientos, ocurridos en la Empresa Promotora de Salud SUSALUD, entre enero de 2004 y diciembre de 2007. Se elaboraron dos cartas de control, la primera se hizo teniendo en cuenta como línea central la proporción de muertes perinatales en cada uno de los meses y como límites superior e inferior de control la proporción de muertes ±3 SD, la segunda se elaboró calculando los logits de las proporciones de las muertes perinatales. Resultados Se construyeron dos cartas control para la vigilancia de la mortalidad perinatal. La primera tuvo en cuenta las proporciones de muertes perinatales para cada uno de los meses dando un promedio para el proceso de cinco muertes perinatales por cada mil nacimientos (p=0,005), para la segunda carta control se calcularon los logits de las proporciones de muertes perinatales. Conclusiones Disponer de las cartas SPC para el monitoreo y posterior análisis de la mortalidad perinatal, permitirá detectar rápidamente los cambios en la calidad del servicio, evaluar aspectos de la calidad de la atención materno-infantil y programar intervenciones específicas.

Objetivo Aplicar la metodología de las cartas de control estadístico de procesos (SPC) en la vigilancia de la mortalidad perinatal, indicador de la salud materno-perinatal. Método Las cartas de control fueron elaboradas utilizando 286 muertes perinatales y los 51 840 nacimientos, ocurridos en la Empresa Promotora de Salud SUSALUD, entre enero de 2004 y diciembre de 2007. Se elaboraron dos cartas de control, la primera se hizo teniendo en cuenta como línea central la proporción de muertes perinatales en cada uno de los meses y como límites superior e inferior de control la proporción de muertes ±3 SD, la segunda se elaboró calculando los logits de las proporciones de las muertes perinatales. Resultados Se construyeron dos cartas control para la vigilancia de la mortalidad perinatal. La primera tuvo en cuenta las proporciones de muertes perinatales para cada uno de los meses dando un promedio para el proceso de cinco muertes perinatales por cada mil nacimientos (p=0,005), para la segunda carta control se calcularon los logits de las proporciones de muertes perinatales. Conclusiones Disponer de las cartas SPC para el monitoreo y posterior análisis de la mortalidad perinatal, permitirá detectar rápidamente los cambios en la calidad del servicio, evaluar aspectos de la calidad de la atención materno-infantil y programar intervenciones específicas.

Objective Applying statistical process control (SPC) charts in perinatal mortality surveillance (as an epidemiological indicator). Method The control charts were prepared using 51,840 births; 286 cases were produced from these births. All information came from SUSALUD between January 2004 and December 2007. Two control charts are presented; the first one's central line was considered to be the proportion of cases + 3 SD and the second one used the logits from the percentages of cases. Results Two control charts were prepared for monitoring perinatal mortality. The first considered the percentage of cases per month and an average of five cases per one thousand births was obtained (p=0.005). The logits were used for the second chart. Conclusions Having SPC charts available for monitoring and analysing perinatal mortality will allow changes in service quality to be quickly detected and let aspects regarding the quality of the service being provided for mothers and the newborn to be evaluated. Specific interventions can also be programmed.

The thrombospondin related adhesion protein (TRAP) is a malaria pre-erythrocytic antigen currently pursued as malaria vaccine candidate to Plasmodium falciparum. In this study, a long synthetic peptide (LSP) representing a P. vivax TRAP fragment involved in hepatocyte invasion was formulated in both Freund and Montanide ISA 720 adjutants and administered by IM and subcutaneous routes to BALB/c mice and Aotus monkeys. We measured specific humoral immune responses in both animal species and performed a sporozoite challenge in Aotus monkeys to assess the protective efficacy of the vaccine. After immunization both mice and Aotus seroconverted as shown by ELISA, and the specific anti-peptide antibodies cross reacted with the parasite in IFAT assays. Only two out of six immunized animals became infected after P. vivax sporozoite challenge as compared with four out of six animals from the control group. These results suggest that this TRAP fragment has protective potential against P. vivax malaria and deserves further studies as vaccine candidate.

Objetivo Elaborar curvas que relacionen el peso al nacer y edad gestacional, y sirvan de estándar para la población de recién nacidos en Colombia. Métodos Las curvas fueron elaboradas utilizando los pesos de los recién nacidos producto de embarazos que finalizaron entre las semanas 22 y 44. Se elaboraron tres tablas con sus respectivas figuras, utilizando regresiones monótonas ajustadas sobre los percentiles muestrales calculados para los diferentes estratos definidos por las covariables sexo y número de semanas. Resultados Se construyeron las curvas porcentuales para el peso de los neonatos a los niveles 5 , 10 , 25 , 50 , 75 , 90 y 95 %, además de las tablas con sus valores. Conclusiones Disponer de curvas de peso al nacer elaboradas con los datos de los recién nacidos pertenecientes a las poblaciones de las cuales provienen, permite una mejor clasificación de los recién nacidos.

Objective This work was aimed at constructing curves relating birth-weight to gestational age; these can be used as a standard for the newborn in Colombia. Method The curves were drawn up using birth-weights from pregnancies lasting 22-44 weeks. Three tables were drawn up; these are presented, along with their respective graphs. They were constructed using monotonic regression from the sample percentiles computed in strata defined by gender and the number of weeks. Results Percentile curves were built for 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90 and 95% percentiles for the newborn in the form of tables and graphs. Conclusions Constructing birth-weight curves from data pertaining to the target population led to better classification of the newborn.

Objective This work was aimed at constructing curves relating birth-weight to gestational age; these can be used as a standard for the newborn in Colombia. Method The curves were drawn up using birth-weights from pregnancies lasting 22-44 weeks. Three tables were drawn up; these are presented, along with their respective graphs. They were constructed using monotonic regression from the sample percentiles computed in strata defined by gender and the number of weeks. Results Percentile curves were built for 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90 and 95% percentiles for the newborn in the form of tables and graphs. Conclusions Constructing birth-weight curves from data pertaining to the target population led to better classification of the newborn.

Objetivo Elaborar curvas que relacionen el peso al nacer y edad gestacional, y sirvan de estándar para la población de recién nacidos en Colombia. Métodos Las curvas fueron elaboradas utilizando los pesos de los recién nacidos producto de embarazos que finalizaron entre las semanas 22 y 44. Se elaboraron tres tablas con sus respectivas figuras, utilizando regresiones monótonas ajustadas sobre los percentiles muestrales calculados para los diferentes estratos definidos por las covariables sexo y número de semanas. Resultados Se construyeron las curvas porcentuales para el peso de los neonatos a los niveles 5 , 10 , 25 , 50 , 75 , 90 y 95 %, además de las tablas con sus valores. Conclusiones Disponer de curvas de peso al nacer elaboradas con los datos de los recién nacidos pertenecientes a las poblaciones de las cuales provienen, permite una mejor clasificación de los recién nacidos.

INTRODUCCION: Anualmente se producen en el mundo entre 80 y 100 millones de casos de malaria ocasionada por Plasmodium vivax, segunda especie de Plasmodium en importancia a nivel mundial y primera en el continente americano. Ante la falla de los métodos clásicos de control de la malaria, derivada de la creciente resistencia de los mosquitos a los insecticidas y de los parásitos a los medicamentos disponibles, se ha trabajado intensamente en la búsqueda de vacunas que puedan prevenir completamente la infección o limitar los efectos patológicos de la enfermedad. OBJETIVOS: Este trabajo describe el proceso de desarrollo de una vacuna experimental dirigida contra las formas pre-eritrocíticas del parásito, para lo cual se ha seleccionado la proteína circumesporozoito (CS) que se expresa de forma abundante en la superficie del parásito y que se halla comprometida en el proceso de invasión hepática. METODOLOGÍA: El proceso consistió en una exhaustiva caracterización inmunológica de la proteína, mediante péptidos sintéticos de diferente longitud, seguida de pruebas de toxicidad e inmunogenicidad en animales con los tres péptidos largos que cubren las regiones N, R y C de la CS. Como etapa inicial de la prueba en humanos, se hizo un ensayo clínico fase I que probó la seguridad e inmunogenicidad, de cada uno de los péptidos formulados en el adyuvante Montanide ISA-720. El ensayo fue al azar, doble ciego y comprometió a 23 voluntarios sanos, hombres y mujeres entre 18 y 33 años de edad, sin historia de malaria. CONCLUSIONES: La vacuna fue muy bien tolerada y demostró buena seguridad e inmunogenicidad en los ensayos preclínicos así como en todos los voluntarios, facilitando el avance a ulteriores fases de investigación clínica.

INTRODUCTION: Plasmodium vivax causes approximately 80-100 million clinical cases every year. It is the most prevalent human malaria parasite in the American continent and its prevalence is second only to P. falciparum worldwide. Due to the emergence of medication-resistant parasites and an increase in insecticide-resistant mosquitoes, research to find a vaccine that could prevent or limit the clinical manifestations of the disease has increased greatly. During the last two decades, significant progress has been achieved in this attempt; however, the development of a P. vivax vaccine has been hampered due to the lack of sustainable in vitro parasite cultures. OBJECTIVES: We describe the development and testing of a vaccine to P. vivax pre-erythrocytic stages. We selected the circumsporozoite (CS) protein, an antigen abundantly expressed on the parasite surface. METHODOLOGY: After extensive immunological characterization in vitro, three long peptides (N, R and C) were synthesized, and the toxicity and immunogenicity of these peptides were thoroughly assessed in animals. To determine the safety and immunogenicity in humans, a randomized, double blind clinical trial was conducted. The trial included 23 healthy volunteers who received 100 µg of N, R and C of each peptide formulated in Montanide ISA-720 adjuvant. CONCLUSIONS: The vaccination was well tolerated and proven to be safe in both animals and volunteers; thus, additional clinical trials utilizing this vaccine candidate are indicated.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) subsp. medellin (Btmed) produces parasporal crystalline inclusions which are toxic to mosquito larvae. It has been shown that the inclusions of this bacterium contain mainly proteins of 94, 68 and 28-30 kDa. EcoRI partially digested total DNA of Btmed was cloned by using the Lambda Zap II cloning kit. Recombinant plaques were screened with a mouse policlonal antibody raised against the 94 kDa crystal protein of Btmed. One of the positive plaques was selected, and by in vivo excision, a recombinant pBluescript SK(-) was obtained. The gene encoding the 94 kDa toxin of Btmed DNA was cloned in a 4.4 kb DNA fragment. Btmed DNA was then subcloned as a EcoRI/EcoRI fragment into the shuttle vector pBU4 producing the recombinant plasmid pBTM3 and used to transform by electroporation Bt subsp. israelensis (Bti) crystal negative strain 4Q2-81. Toxicity to mosquito larvae was estimated by using first instar laboratory reared Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae challenged with whole crystals. Toxicity results indicate that the purified inclusions from the recombinant Bti strain were toxic to all mosquito species tested, although the toxicity was not as high as the one produced by the crystal of the Btmed wild type strain. Poliacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicate that the inclusions produced by the recombinant strain Bti (pBTM3) were mainly composed of the 94 kDa protein of Btmed, as it was determined by Western blot

Characterization of the insecticidal and hemolytic activity of solubilized crystal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) subsp. medellin (Btmed) was performed and compared to solubilized crystal proteins of isolates 1884 of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) and isolate PG-14 of B. thuringiensis subsp. morrisoni (Btm). In general, at acid pH values solubilization of the Bt crystalline parasporal inclusions (CPI) was lower than at alkaline pH. The larvicidal activity demonstrated by the CPI of Btmed indicated that optimal solubilization of CPI takes place at a pH value of 11.3, in Bti at pH values from 5.03 to 11.3 and in Btm at pH values from 9.05 to 11.3. Hemolytic activity against sheep red blood cells was mainly found following extraction at pH 11.3 in all Bt strains tested. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions revealed that optimal solubilization of the CPI in all Bt strains takes place at the alkaline pH values from 9.05 to 11.3. An enriched preparation of Btmed crystals was obtained, solubilized and crystal proteins were separated on a size exclusion column (Sephacryl S-200). Three main protein peaks were observed on the chromatogram. The first peak had two main proteins that migrate between 90 to 100 kDa. These proteins are apparently not common to other Bt strains isolated to date. The second and third peaks obtained from the size exclusion column yielded polypeptides of 68 and 28-30 kDa, respectively. Each peak independently, showed toxicity against 1st instar Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. Interestingly, combinations of the fractions corresponding to the 68 and 30 kDa protein showed an increased toxicity. These results suggest that the 94 kDa protein is an important component of the Btmed toxins with the highest potency to kill mosquito larvae. When crystal proteins of Bti were probed with antisera raised independently against the three main protein fractions of Btmed, the only crystal protein that showed cross reaction was the 28 kDa protein. These data suggest that Btmed could be an alternative bacterium for mosquito control programs in case mosquito larval resistance emerges to Bti toxic proteins.

Mosquitoes are vector of serious human and animal diseases, such as malaria, dengue, yellow fever, among others. The use of biological control agents has provide an environmentally safe and highly specific alternative to the use of chemical insecticides in the control of vector borne diseases. Bacillus thuringiensis and B. sphaericus produce toxic proteins to mosquito larvae. Great progress has been made on the biochemical and molecular characterization of such proteins and the genes encoding them. Nevertheless, the low residuality of these biological insecticides is one of the major drawbacks. This article present some interesting aspects of the mosquito larvae feeding habits and review the attempts that have been made to genetically engineer microorganisms that while are used by mosquito larvae as a food source should express the Bacillus toxin genes in order to improve the residuality and stability in the mosquito breeding ponds.