Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

The objective of this research is to create a reliable instrument to measure the quality of the urban sanitation service as perceived by users in the Maracaibo Municipality. After a review of literature on service quality and urban sanitation, a structured scale was designed taking the SERVPEF model as a reference and adding a dimension to measure the incidence of citizen participation on service quality. To obtain data for the pilot test and the final sample, a stratified sampling process was defined for the first stage and cluster sampling for the second. The pilot test showed a reliability of 0.873, while factor analysis was applied to data collected in the sample, a technique that generated a total of eight underlying factors for measuring the quality of the service under study. The factor of aspects related to the employees’ availability, willingness and ability to understand in order to respond to the problems presented by users in a timely fashion, was the most important, accounting for 13.24% of the total variance. Other key factors for measuring the service quality were: reliability, professionalism of the collector staff, credibility, communication, citizen participation and security. 

Under any teaching-learning scheme for mathematics, where errors are pointed out in student work, three types of attitudes may appear: a negative attitude, in which the student believes that errors are simply a symptom of failure; a neutral attitude of indifference to his/her errors; or a positive attitude, considering the errors as a means for learning and a challenge to overcome them. This article presents research that studies attitudes linked to learning mathematics. Its aim was to describe the attitude that engineering students at the University of Zulia exhibit when confronted with their errors in learning mathematics. The theoretical framework is based on Brousseau (2001), Briñol et al (2007), and Pallí and Martinez (2004). The AEAM scale was used (Mathematics Students’ Attitude toward Error), consisting of 36 items, each with 6 Likert-type response alternatives, in its second version, updated by the authors. The instrument was validated through expert opinion and was determined to be highly reliable with a Cronbach Alpha of 0.9073. Conclusions were that most participants showed a moderately positive attitude toward their mistakes; however, since the attitude is not located in the desirable positive end, this value reflects a weak attitude that does not guarantee appropriate behavior regarding the errors, although it could be improved to a frankly positive attitude.

Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas y los factores epidemiológicos del pterigium y  propiciar las estrategias que permitan el control de estas causas en los pobladores de la provincia de Henan, República Popular de China. Método: se realizó una investigación observacional, descriptiva y transversal, teniendo como universo a 3940 pacientes con un diagnóstico presuntivo de pterigium en el pesquisaje activo casa a casa, en el período abril de 2008 a enero de 2009, de los cuales se tomaron como muestra 415, que acudieron a la consulta de evaluación en el Hospital de Hebi. Resultados: el sexo femenino con el 53%, el grupo de edades entre 31 y 50 años y los campesinos predominaron en el estudio. El grado II, primario y activo, la localización nasal y el tipo carnoso fueron preponderantes. El film lagrimal se afectó en el 57,5% de los casos estudiados con una afectación de la córnea en el 55,9%. Conclusiones: se encontró una fuerte conexión entre la hiposecreción lagrimal, alteraciones corneales y la presencia de pterigium en dependencia del grado de la dolencia, que permitirá establecer protocolos personalizados en la conducta para cada paciente que tenga esta enfermedad.Palabras clave: PTERIGION/epidemiología, SECRECIONES CORPORALES.ABSTRACTObjective: to describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics of pterygium to favor the strategies to control the causes of the disease in Henan province, People's Republic of China. Method: an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional research was carried out having a target group of 3940 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of pterygium in an active screening "house to house" during April 2008 to January 2009 taking a sample of 415 patients attending to "Hebi" Hospital. Results: female sex (53%), the age bracket of 31-50 years old and farmers prevailed in the study. Pterygium of degree II, primary and active, having nasal location and fleshy type was predominant. Lachrymal film affected the 57, 5% of the cases in study and 55,9% presented corneal affection. Conclusions: a strong connection was found among lachrymal hyposecretion, corneal alterations and the presence of pterygium depending on the degree of ailment; which will allow establishing personalized protocols in the conduct to be followed for each patient who suffers the disease.Key words: PTERYGIUM/epidemiology, BODILY SECRETIONS.

La alveolitis es una de las complicaciones más frecuentes de la extracción dentaria, que aqueja a muchos pacientes, siendo el tratamiento convencional el más empleado para su curabilidad, resulta de interés encontrar otras terapéuticas eficaces para el proceso de curación alveolar, por lo cual se realizó un estudio longitudinal, prospectivo y descriptivo con el objetivo de determinar la efectividad del tratamiento con magnetoterapia en la alveolitis, según la evolución clínica de los pacientes en curado, mejorado e igual. Esta investigación se desarrolló en el Hospital Universitario Abel Santamaría Cuadrado, durante el período comprendido de enero a octubre del 2010. El universo estuvo constituido por 112 pacientes que asistieron a la consulta de cirugía máxilofacial, de ellos 64 formaron la muestra, atendiendo a los criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Para el análisis estadístico se emplearon los números absolutos, relativos y las pruebas no paramétricas de Ji cuadrado y se tomó como nivel de significación á=0,005. La asignación de sujetos a los tratamientos se hizo de manera aleatoria, quedando con 32 pacientes el grupo control y el de estudio. En los pacientes con alveolitis seca y húmeda a los 3 días el 84,6% y el 89,4% resultaron clínicamente mejorados con el tratamiento de magnetoterapia, mientras que a los 5 y 7 días con el convencional sólo había un 27,2%. Se determinó que la mayor cantidad de pacientes con alveolitis resultaron curados a los 5 días con magnetoterapia y con 5 sesiones hubo remisión del dolor, por lo cual resultó efectivo el tratamiento con magnetoterapia en la alveolitis.DeCS: ALVEOLITIS/diagnóstico, EXTRACCIÒN DENTARIA, MAGNETOTERAPIA/clasificación.ABSTRACTAlveolitis is one of the most frequent complications of dental extraction, and many patients complain about it, being conventional treatment the most used to cure it; finding other effective therapies to cure the alveolar process is of interest; therefore a longitudinal, prospective and descriptive research was conducted with the purpose of determining the effectiveness of magnetotherapy in alveolitis, supported on clinical evolution of patients: cured, better and equal. This research was carried out at "Abel Santamaria Cuadrado" General University Hospital from January to October 2010. The target group was comprised of 112 patients who attended to maxillofacial surgery, out of them, 64 patients was the sample taken. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were followed. To carry out the statistical analysis absolute, relative and chi square no parametric tests, taking also the level of significance á=0,005 were applied. Subjects who underwent the treatment were chosen at random, leaving 32 patients: control group and study group. In patients suffering from dry and humid alveolitis at three-day magnetotherapy 84, 6% and 89, 4% were clinically better; those following the conventional treatment ( 5 to 7 days) showed only 27,3% of improvement. The majority of patients with magnetotherapy were cured at a five-day treatment and pain remission as well, resulting in the effectiveness of magnetotherapy to treat alveolitis.DeCS: Alveolitis/diagnosis, dental extraction, magnetotherapy/classification.

Introducción: el sistema de apoyo ventilatorio domiciliario es una alternativa para el tratamiento de los pacientes con insuficiencia respiratoria crónica grave. Objetivo: presentar un escolar de 6 años de edad, con una enfermedad de Werding Hoffman, con asistencia respiratoria artificial desde los 5 meses de edad y hace 2 años con ventilación mecánica domiciliaria. Método: se revisa y actualiza la bibliografía sobre ventilación mecánica domiciliaria en edades pediátricas y enfermedad de Werding Hofman. Se presenta un niño varón: de 6 años de edad que ingresa a los 5 meses de edad, en el servicio de Cuidados intensivos del Hospital pediátrico provincial docente «Pepe Portilla» de Pinar del Río con una insuficiencia respiratoria crónica, el cual requiere ventilación mecánica, durante 4 años en el hospital, sin complicaciones y desde hace 2 años en su hogar con ventilación domiciliaria. Discusión: La ventilación domiciliaria es un método seguro y necesario para niños con insuficiencia respiratoria crónica de carácter grave, esto ha beneficiado la evolución favorable de este niño al que se le asigna una enfermera de cuidados intensivos durante 8 horas diarias, además se entrena a la madre como cuidadora en los procederes necesarios para mantener en su hogar la ventilación.Palabras clave: RESPIRACIÓN ARTIFICIAL/clasificación, INSUFICIENCIA RESPIRATORIA/diagnóstico, NIÑOS CON DISCAPACIDAD.ABSTRACTIntroduction: ventilatory Support System at home is an alternative to treat patients with severe chronic respiratory failure. Objective: to present a 6 year-old school boy suffering from Werdnig Hoffman Disease, with artificial ventilation since he was 5 months old and for the last 2 years with mechanical ventilation at home. Patient and method: medical literature on home mechanical ventilation in pediatric patients and Werdnig Hoffman Disease is updated and reviewed. A 6 year old male child was admitted at 5 months of age in the intensive care unit at "Pepe Portilla" Children Provincial Hospital in Pinar del Rio with chronic respiratory failure, requiring mechanical ventilation for 4 years in the hospital, without complications, and during 2 years at home with ventilation. He was assigned an intensive care nurse for 8 hours; his mother was also trained as a caregiver in the necessary procedures to maintain ventilation at home.Key words: ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION/classification, RESPIRATORY INSUFFICIENCY/diagnosis, DISABLED CHILDREN.

Intestinal parasitism (IP) is still a health problem in Central America and Caribbean Countries. An applied, epidemiological, descriptive, cross-sectional research was conducted at the urban district of «Orange Walk», Belize in 2009 with the purpose of identifying the causal factors of epidemiological risk. The target group was comprised of 566 children (0-4 years old), the sample (400 children) was taken by means of intentional non-probabilistic sampling and a direct feces examination; representing two sampling strata. Empiric methods of investigation were used: questionnaires, observation guidebook and theoretical. To process the data, descriptive statistics, absolute and relative frequencies were used; ratios, rate with relative risk, comparison of two and k-proportions, plus non-parametric chi square test as well. More positive feces prevailed over negative ones, observing no relation to the sex and the onset of parasites, children of 3-4 years old prevailed. The rate of medical care was 41.34/100 inhabitants, Giardia lamblia was the most frequent parasite found. The clinical signs of: abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss. The main causal epidemiological factors were: no water boiling, inadequate sewage disposal and plays on the ground. Recurrence had 2 events per child and a relative risk of suffering from the infection of 1.3 times, greater for children living in unfavourable hygienic situation: inhabitants with poor sanitary education and parents with low-schooling level. Intestinal Parasitism constitutes a health problem.

A descriptive, longitudinal, cross-sectional study which included patients operated on ectopic pregnancy at "Abel Santamaria Cuadrado" University Hospital, Pinar del Rio was conducted from January 1st, 2010 to December 31, 2010. All patients discharged from the hospital with sonographic diagnosis and having post-operative histological diagnosis of this entity were included in the study. The ectopic pregnancy was more frequent found, (in the period of the study) in women from 20 to 29 years old, tubal localization prevailed in Caucasian race having a physical condition of broken ectopic pregnancy, the most frequent presentation observed in sonographic images were intrabdominal free fluids and a mass in annexa.

The first case presenting infestation caused by Dermatobia hominis (human botfly) was reported in Ayacucho, Peru in August 2011. A six-year old girl having a tumor and induration in the external region of the left arm with 8 months of natural history and receiving previous treatment without knowing the cause of the ailment was reported. At her arrival the signs worsened and the clinical along with epidemiological diagnoses were conducted complemented by the entomological analysis. Surgical treatment was performed, removing two larvae that presented entomological characteristics of the parasite. Surgical wound was sutured and followed up without complications. A brief medical literature review about myiasis was also carried out.

Se realizó una investigación epidemiológica explicativa, analítica y transversal con el objetivo de determinar el comportamiento de los factores de riesgo vascular en los ancianos diabéticos ingresados en el Centro de Atención al Diabético de Pinar del Río, en el período comprendido entre enero y junio de 2010. Utilizando un muestreo intencional, el universo y muestra, quedó conformado por todos los pacientes diabéticos de ambos sexos y en las edades de 60 y más años (n=108). En la historia clínica se registraron los resultados del examen físico y los complementarios necesarios para determinar los factores de riesgo vasculares así como dos cuestionarios. Con los datos obtenidos se elaboró una base de datos utilizando el paquete estadístico SPSS para Windows en versión 11.5. Se aplicaron las pruebas estadísticas de 2 y K proporciones de grupos independientes y la paramétrica Ji cuadrado. Los datos para su análisis fueron reflejados en los cuadros de distribución de frecuencia y gráfico. El grupo de edad que predominó fue de 60-69 años, y el sexo femenino. La dislipidemia y el hábito de fumar fueron los factores de riesgo de mayor frecuencia; se observaron proporciones significativas de pacientes con la presencia de 3 a 6 factores de riesgo. La polineuropatía y la insuficiencia arterial periférica fueron las complicaciones más frecuentes. Se concluye que se debe realizar un proyecto de mayor magnitud que permita una mejor valoración de la situación de riesgo vascular en ancianos diabéticos tipo 2.DeCS: FACTORES DE RIESGO, ANCIANO, DIABETES MELLITUS/diagnóstico.ABSTRACTAn epidemiological, explanatory, analytical and cross sectional research was conducted aimed at determining the behavior of vascular risk factors in diabetic old patients admitted to the Diabetes Care Center in Pinar del Rio, from January to June 2010. An intentional sampling, the target group and sample were comprised of all diabetic patients of both sexes, 60 years old and older (n=108). The results of physical examination and complementary check-up to determine vascular risk factors, the results of two questionnaires applied as well were written in the individual clinical history. Through the data obtained a database was created using Windows SPSS statistical package in version 11.5. Statistical tests of 2 and K proportions for independent groups and chi square parametric test were used, showing the results in pictures for the distribution of frequency and graphics in order to carry out the analysis of the data. Ages from 60 to 69 years old and female sex prevailed. Dislipidemia and smoking were the most frequent risk factors; examined significant proportions of patients presenting from 3 to 6 risks factors. The most frequent complications were polyneuropathy and peripheral arterial deficiency. A full-reaching project must be carried out to assess vascular risk status in old diabetic type-2 patients.DeCS: Risk factors, old people, diabetes mellitus/diagnosis.

Purpose of the study: to investigate about the osseous formation of cystic cavities of the maxillaries from adult stem cells. Method: a patient presenting a dentigerous cyst in the left mandibular branch that provoked a large osseous destruction, which was confirmed by means physical examination, complementary studies, Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) and graphic images (photographs). Adult stem cells were placed, in view of a prior assessment and preparation of the patient in hematology service and transfusion medicine. Medical-surgical approach and pathological diagnosis were described, presenting in graphics the clinical and radiological improvement almost immediately, at three months and at two years. Results: it was identified that adult stem cells induce osseous regeneration in the cystic cavities of maxillaries. The evolution of the patient was discussed according to the medical literature reviewed. Conclusion: the use of adult stem cells to treat the osseous regeneration of cystic cavities of the maxillaries was confirmed in this case, and new perspectives of treatment for other maxillofacial illnesses can be opened, as for fractures, osteoarthritis of the Temporal Mandibular Articulation and defects provoked by cancer lesions, etc. Research projects sustaining the use of this new therapy are necessary.