Abstract Alvarez, D. J.; M. S. Jimenez, R. H. Zander & G. M. Suárez. 2023. First record of Anaschisma lilliputanum (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta) in Argentina. Darwiniana, nueva serie 11(1): 23-30. The genus Anaschisma includes four species in America, of which, A. lilliputanum is recorded for the first time to the Argentina. The specimens were analyzed morphologically using conventional techniques for Pottiaceae (Bryophyta). A distribution map of the genus, description and illustration in SEM and LM of the species are provided. Comments and differences between this taxon and A. schiavoneae from Argentina are presented.

Resumen Alvarez, D. J.; M. S. Jimenez, R. H. Zander & G. M. Suárez. 2023. Primer registro de Anaschisma lilliputanum (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta) para la Argentina. Darwiniana, nueva serie 11(1): 23-30. Anaschisma es un género que incluye cuatro especies americanas, de las cuales, A. lilliputanum se registra por primera vez para la Argentina. El análisis morfológico de los ejemplares fue realizado por métodos convencionales para el estudio de las Pottiaceae. Se provee un mapa de distribución del género, una descripción e ilustraciones en MEB y MO de la especie. Se comentan las diferencias con A. schiavoneae presente en la Argentina.

Resumo A hiperuricemia é comum na doença renal crônica (DRC) e pode estar presente em até 50% dos pacientes que se apresentam para diálise. A hiperuricemia pode ser secundária ao comprometimento da taxa de filtração glomerular (TFG) que ocorre na DRC. No entanto, ela também pode preceder o desenvolvimento da doença renal e mesmo prever uma DRC incidente. Estudos experimentais de modelos hiperuricêmicos descobriram que tanto o ácido úrico solúvel quanto o cristalino podem causar danos renais significativos, caracterizados por isquemia, fibrose tubulointersticial e inflamação. Entretanto, a maioria dos estudos de randomização Mendeliana falhou em demonstrar uma relação causal entre o ácido úrico e a DRC, e os ensaios clínicos têm apresentado resultados variáveis. Aqui sugerimos explicações potenciais para os achados clínicos e genéticos negativos, incluindo o papel do ácido úrico cristalino, do ácido úrico intracelular e da atividade da xantina oxidase na lesão renal mediada por ácido úrico. Propomos ensaios clínicos futuros, bem como um algoritmo para o tratamento de hiperuricemia em pacientes com DRC.

Abstract Hyperuricemia is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may be present in 50% of patients presenting for dialysis. Hyperuricemia can be secondary to impaired glomerular filtration rate (GFR) that occurs in CKD. However, hyperuricemia can also precede the development of kidney disease and predict incident CKD. Experimental studies of hyperuricemic models have found that both soluble and crystalline uric acid can cause significant kidney damage, characterized by ischemia, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and inflammation. However, most Mendelian randomization studies failed to demonstrate a causal relationship between uric acid and CKD, and clinical trials have had variable results. Here we suggest potential explanations for the negative clinical and genetic findings, including the role of crystalline uric acid, intracellular uric acid, and xanthine oxidase activity in uric acid-mediated kidney injury. We propose future clinical trials as well as an algorithm for treatment of hyperuricemia in patients with CKD.

INTRODUCTION: The South American country Chile now boasts a life expectancy of over 80 years. As a consequence, Chile now faces the increasing social and economic burden of cancer and must implement political policy to deliver equitable cancer care. Hindering the development of a national cancer policy is the lack of comprehensive analysis of cancer infrastructure and economic impact. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate existing cancer policy, the extent of national investigation and the socio-economic impact of cancer to deliver guidelines for the framing of an equitable national cancer policy. METHODS: Burden, research and care-policy systems were assessed by triangulating objective system metrics -epidemiological, economic, etc. - with political and policy analysis. Analysis of the literature and governmental databases was performed. The oncology community was interviewed and surveyed. RESULTS: Chile utilizes 1% of its gross domestic product on cancer care and treatment. We estimate that the economic impact as measured in Disability Adjusted Life Years to be US$ 3.5 billion. Persistent inequalities still occur in cancer distribution and treatment. A high quality cancer research community is expanding, however, insufficient funding is directed towards disproportionally prevalent stomach, lung and gallbladder cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Chile has a rapidly ageing population wherein 40% smoke, 67% are overweight and 18% abuse alcohol, and thus the corresponding burden of cancer will have a negative impact on an affordable health care system. We conclude that the Chilean government must develop a national cancer strategy, which the authors outline herein and believe is essential to permit equitable cancer care for the country.

Hispanic clinicians in Texas, United States of America, and in the neighboring state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, were surveyed to determine their educational needs in the area of HIV/AIDS. Two-thirds of the 74 Texan and 22% of the 104 Mexican physicians queried had seen at least one HIV/AIDS patient in the previous year. The majority of the respondents were primary care physicians who: 1) were in private practice; 2) saw more than 1 000 patients per year; 3) had been out of training for more than 10 years; 4) provided some HIV prevention education to patients based on their perceived risk of infection; 5) rated their own knowledge of HIV/AIDS as average but rated their knowledge of treatments for the disease below average; 6) received most of their information about HIV/AIDS from journals rather than formal continuing education programs; 7) thought Hispanic patients had special needs with regard to HIV/AIDS care; and 8) were willing to attend education programs to improve their HIV/AIDS management skills. The greatest barriers to caring for HIV patients were lack of clinical knowledge and fear of infection. These results point to a need for a large-scale training program to improve the HIV/AIDS management skills of Hispanic clinicians in Texas and Nuevo Leon.

Los médicos hispanos que ejercen en Texas, Estados Unidos de América, y en el estado vecino de Nuevo León, México, fueron encuestados para determinar si necesitaban recibir capacitación en materia de VIH/sida. Dos terceras partes de los 74 médicos interrogados en Texas y 22% de los 104 interrogados en Nuevo León habían examinado como mínimo a un paciente de VIH/sida durante el año previo. La mayoría de los encuestados eran médicos de atención primaria que 1) ejercían su profesión en lo privado; 2) veían a más de 1000 pacientes al año; 3) habían terminado sus estudios hacía más de 10 años; 4) proporcionaban educación preventiva a sus pacientes según la impresión que tuvieran del riesgo de cada uno; 5) dijeron poseer conocimientos normales sobre VIH/sida, pero inferiores a lo normal en lo referente a su tratamiento; 6) sacaban la mayor parte de su información sobre VIH/sida de revistas, y no de programas de educación continuada; 7) opinaban que los pacientes hispanos tenían necesidades especiales en torno a VIH/sida, y 8) estaban dispuestos a asistir a programas educativos para mejorar su habilidad en el manejo de pacientes con VIH/sida. Los factores que más obstaculizaban la atención de los pacientes con infección por VIH fueron la falta de conocimientos sobre los aspectos clínicos de la enfermedad y el temor a infectarse. Estos resultados apuntan hacia la necesidad de establecer un programa de adiestramiento a gran escala para mejorar la habilidad de los médicos hispanos en Texas y Nuevo León para tratar a pacientes con VIH/sida.