As part of efforts to restore fishery resources and recover damaged coastal ecosystems, artificial reefs are often anchored on the seafloor in coastal zones, to provide new habitats for marine organisms. The aim of the study was to describe the structure of a community of benthic invertebrates colonising a niche-type artificial reef (AATN in Spanish). Nine structures were anchored at depths of 16 ± 1.5 m for 99 weeks (22 months) in the Area of Benthic Resource Management and Exploitation (AMERB) in coastal waters of the Region of Bio Bio, Chile. The results showed that, at 3 months from submersion of the NTAR, much of the artificial substrate remained bare and there were only low levels of specimens of Balanus sp. barnacles, showing mean coverage of 11.26%, and even lower proportions of Rhodophyta, with mean coverage of 0.34%. At 6 months, the presence of hydrozoans was seen, decreasing the coverage of the barnacles, which was aided further at 8 months with the arrival of barnacle predatory invertebrates. At 8 months, new benthic invertebrates appeared and competed for the substrate. These included sponges and algae. At 99 weeks, the hydrozoans dominated the substrate, followed by barnacles and Rhodophyta, the first colonising organisms, leading to colonisation by motile macro-invertebrates, mainly consisting of crustaceans, echinoderms and molluscs. The AATN artificial system provides an ideal substrate for the development of early ecological succession and the use of this technology should be feasible in the recovery process of habitat damaged by anthropogenic actions and climate change.

El embarazo cornual es un tipo de embarazo ectópico poco frecuente, caracterizado por la implantación del saco gestacional en los cuernos uterinos, cuyo diagnóstico es desafiante, ya que realizado de forma precoz disminuye considerablemente la morbimortalidad materna.

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a growing burden worldwide, leading to over 10 million deaths each year. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of high BP and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programmes worldwide. National Health Surveys, PURE and CESCAS Chilean cohorts have shown a high prevalence of hypertension, with a significant proportion of people unaware of being hypertensive or under treatment but with uncontrolled BP. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2017. BP measurement, the definition of hypertension and statistical analysis followed the MMM protocol. Sixty-seven sites participated. Most screening sites were National Heath Public System outpatient clinics, mainly in the 9th region of the country. In addition, clinical research sites and private clinics participated. Overall, 4754 individuals were screened during MMM17. After multiple imputations, 1153 (24.2%) had hypertension. Of individuals not receiving anti-hypertensive medication, 653 (15.3%) were hypertensive. Of the 500 individuals receiving anti-hypertensive medication, 162 (32.5%) had uncontrolled BP. MMM17 was one of the largest BP screening campaigns performed in Chile. It demonstrated a high proportion of hypertension among screenees with a low proportion the individuals with controlled hypertension in the community. The high percentage of persons untreated or with uncontrolled hypertension whilst on pharmacologic treatment suggests that systematic screening programmes may be a useful tool to improve hypertension control in Chile.

This article examines the core concept of "standing" to challenge deci-sions from the Chilean Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Agency (Superintend-encia del Medio Ambiente or SMA) as provided by laws N° 20.417 and 20.600, both which establish that only the ones “directly affected” by the decision can appear before the Envi-ronmental Court. The application of this criterion for individuals and NGO’s in judgments given by the Second Environmental Court is analysed. Furthermore, the concept of stand-ing is considered in light of the broader concept of environmental justice, including the need to guarantee a timely and appropriate involvement of those "affected" from initial stages of the administrative proceedings, and not limiting their intervention exclusively to judicial review.

El presente artículo tiene por objeto analizar el criterio jurisprudencial entregado por el Segundo Tribunal Ambiental en relación a la legitimación activa para re-clamar las resoluciones de la Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente. Lo anterior llevará a examinar el contenido que se le ha dado al concepto de “afectado” o “directamente afecta-do” entregado por la Ley N° 20.417 y la Ley N° 20.600. Sobre la base de lo anterior, se analizará también si dicho criterio respecto de la legitimación activa para recurrir al órgano jurisdiccional especial, satisface completamente un verdadero y real acceso a la justicia ambiental. En este sentido, se mencionará la necesidad de que dichos “afectados” puedan contar con las herramientas y los medios necesarios que les garanticen una participación oportuna y de calidad desde la sede administrativa, ya que, considerando el “carácter revi-sor” del contencioso administrativo, llegar solo a la sede judicial, significa comenzar la carrera con mucha desventaja. Finalmente, se esbozaran algunas posibles soluciones para atender este último problema en sede administrativa.

Samples of fish organs from three salmonid species present in Chile, were analyzed through the nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) to detect the presence of Infectious Necrosis Pancreatic virus (IPNV) and leading to their phylogenetic classification. The technique proved to be efficient and sensitive for detection and genotypification of viral samples which could not even be isolated in cell culture. The phylogenetic analysis showed the two genogroups previously described in the country, ie., European (Genogroup 5) and American (Genogroup 1), being the IPNV that belong to Genogroup 5 the dominant one (78.8%). It is clear that the Chilean IPNV is clustered within the Genogroup 1 forming a Chilean genotype that is separated from the reference strains (e.g. WB, VR-299). It was determined that there is a statistically significant relationship between the genonogroup that a viral isolate belongs and a specific host. Most of the viruses from Genogroup 5 were detected in Salmo salar , while the ones from Genogroup 1 were detected mainly in Oncorhynchus mykiss and O. Kisutch (P

Samples of fish organs (kidney and spleen) from the main salmonid species farmed in Chile were analyzed through the nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) to detect the presence of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). The technique proved to be efficient and sensitive, allowing amplification of viral genetic material for sequencing directly from tissue, even from samples that could not be isolated in cell culture. The phylogenetic analysis showed the two genogroups previously described in the country, i.e., European (Genogroup 5) and American (Genogroup 1), being the IPNV that belong to Genogroup 5 the dominant one (78.8%). It is clear that the Chilean IPN viruses are clustered within the Genogroup 1 forming a sub-group that is separated from the reference strains (e.g., WB, VR-299), hence we propose its denomination as a Chilean genotype. Additionally, a statistically significant host-specific relationship was observed between the genogroups identified: viruses from Genogroup 5 were detected in Salmo salar, while the ones from Genogroup 1 were detected in Oncorhynchus mykiss or O. kisutch (P < 0.001). The association of this host-specific relationship with the virulence can provide important information for the management and control of IPNV in Chile.

Background: The genomes of several infectious pancreatic necrosis viruses (IPNVs) isolated in Chile were sequenced with a single amplification approach for both segments A and B. The resulting sequences were then used to determine the conservation of the primer-binding regions used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic methods proposed in the literature. Thus, the robustness of each technique was studied, particularly the eventual effect of further mutations within the primer-binding sites.Results: On analysis, most methods currently used to detect Chilean IPNV varieties were deemed adequate. However, the primers were designed to be genogroup specific, implying that most detection methods pose some risk of detecting all strains prevalent in the country, due to the coexistence of genogroups 1 and 5.Conclusions: Negative resultsmust be interpreted carefully given the high genomic variability of IPNVs. Detection techniques (quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR) based on degenerate primers can be used to minimize the possibilities of false-negative detections. (C) 2016 Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso. Production and hosting by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) is the etiological agent of a highly contagious disease that is endemic to salmon farming in Chile and causes great economic losses to the industry. Here we compared different diagnostic methods to detect IPNV in field samples, including 3 real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assays, cell culture isolation, and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Additionally, we performed a phylogenetic analysis to investigate the genogroups prevailing in Chile, as well as their geographic distribution and virulence. The 3 qRT-PCR assays used primers that targeted regions of the VP2 and VP1 genes of the virus and were tested in 46 samples, presenting a fair agreement within their results. All samples were positive for at least 2 of the qRT-PCR assays, 29 were positive for cell culture, and 23 for IFAT, showing less sensitivity for these latter 2 methods. For the phylogenetic analysis, portions of 1180 and 523 bp of the VP2 region of segment A were amplified by RT-PCR, sequenced and compared with sequences from reference strains and from isolates reported by previous studies carried out in Chile. Most of the sequenced isolates belonged to genogroup 5 (European origin), and 5 were classified within genogroup 1 (American origin). Chilean isolates formed clusters within each of the genogroups found, evidencing a clear differentiation from the reference strains. To our knowledge, this is the most extensive study completed for IPNV in Chile, covering isolates from sea- and freshwater salmon farms and showing a high prevalence of this virus in the country.

Perumytilus purpuratus is an abundant bivalve located in the intertidal rocky zone of South America that has been considered as a key species of the ecosystem. There are few studies of the host-parasite relationship of this bivalve; thus, this research aims to analyse the spatial and temporal variation in the prevalence of trematodes in P. purpuratus. Bivalves were collected from three localities (El Tabo, Las Cruces and Montemar) of central Chile (33°S, 71°W) during different seasons of 2010. The bivalves were also collected every metre, from the lowest to the highest level of the intertidal rocky zone, to determine the parasite distribution within the localities. Three species of trematodes as sporocyst stages were found: Prosorhynchoides carvajali, Proctoeces sp. and an undetermined fellodistomid species. Of the 37,692 bivalve specimens collected, 2.68% were parasitised. The undetermined fellodistomid species was the most prevalent parasite observed (1.69%). There were little detected differences in the prevalence of some trematode species between seasons. The prevalence of P. carvajali varied between localities, being most prevalent at Montemar. The distribution of trematodes along the rocky zone within the localities was variable, with P. carvajali being more prevalent in the mid-lowest level of the intertidal zone and the undetermined fellodistomid species being more prevalent in the mid-highest level. Both the abundance of definitive hosts and the environmental conditions likely result in different levels of infection by trematodes in P. purpuratus between and within the localities.

Chile is receiving immigrant populations coming from other Latin-American countries.To determine the prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) among immigrants who live in Independencia, a quarter in Santiago, Chile.A cross sectional study was carried out in the primary health care clinic and in the state-funded school of Independencia. A representative sample of 282 adults and 341 children were interviewed. Mental disorders were diagnosed using CIS-R and MINI structured interviews.The interviewed immigrants came mostly from Peru. The prevalence of mental disorders in the adult population was 17.8% and among children, it was 29.3%.The adult immigrants have a lower prevalence of mental disorders than the Chilean population but it increases among children. Barriers of access to health services, that should be solved, were detected.

BACKGROUND:Chile is receiving immigrant populations coming from other Latin-American countries.AIM:To determine the prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) among immigrants who live in Independencia, a quarter in Santiago, Chile.MATERIAL AND METHODS:A cross sectional study was carried out in the primary health care clinic and in the state-funded school of Independencia. A representative sample of 282 adults and 341 children were interviewed. Mental disorders were diagnosed using CIS-R and MINI structured interviews.RESULTS:The interviewed immigrants came mostly from Peru. The prevalence of mental disorders in the adult population was 17.8% and among children, it was 29.3%.CONCLUSIONS:The adult immigrants have a lower prevalence of mental disorders than the Chilean population but it increases among children. Barriers of access to health services, that should be solved, were detected.