OBJECTIVE: To assess an appropriate diagnostic method by measurements of the gunpowder amount around the entrance hole on the skin. METHODOLOGY: Using a caliber-38 revolver with FAME bullets, and from pre-established distances, five series of gunshots were performed on clothed fragments of pigskin. Then, we verified the presence of gunpowder tattoos, both, over the skin and clothes. To determine the amount of gunpowder particles present on the skin, microphotografies of the specimens were taken. All firing distances drew a clean zone (peripheral to the bullet entrance hole); followed by the gunpowder tattoo, which were divided into three concentric areas. These areas are closely related to the firing distance and inversely related to the concentration of gunpowder particles. CONCLUSION: It´s possible to make an accurate asessment of firing distance (range: 30 to 100 cm), through the mea...

Objective. To evaluate the sensitivity, specifcity and predictive values of theclinical cytological study of patients with ascites in a national general hospital in Peru. Methods. Patients presenting with clinical manifestations of ascites, biochemical, cytological and histological studies were included. Results. Fifteen patients with ascites were studied. The mean age was 62 years, being 80% female and 20% male. The fnal diagnoses revealed various malignant neoplasms (93.3%) and peritoneal tuberculosis (6.7%). The most frequent clinical manifestation was mild to severe abdominal pain (80%). The cellular components were: red blood cells (73.3%), histiocytes (26.7%), lymphocytes (73.3%), polymorphonuclear cells (40%), mesothelial cells (86.7%) and clusters of epithelioid cells with varying degrees of atypia (80%). Two casesshowed atypical lymphoid cells. The sensitivity and positive predi...

Objective. To assess the effect of Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis ‘binomio ayahuasca’ ingestion in rat hippocampus. Design. Experimental, descriptive, analytical, and cross-sectional study. Institution. Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Resources, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. Biological material. Rats. Interventions. Orogastric administration of ‘binomio ayahuasca’ in adult Rattus norvegicus albinus Holtzman strain. Seven groups of five animals with an average weight of 240 ± 30 g were administered: (GI) placebo, (GII) 2.5 mL of diazepam (GIII) 0.7 mL of Banisteriopsis caapi solution, (GIV) 0,7 mL of Psychotria viridis solution. Groups GV, GVI and GVII received 0.7 mL, 3.5 mL and 7.0 mL of binomio ayahuasca solution, respectively. Main outcome measures. Macroscopically: reflex mov...