Maca( Lepidium meyenii) known as the " national treasure of Peru" and " South American ginseng",is annual or biennial herbs of the genus Lepidium in Cruciferae. It mainly contains proteins,amino acids,polysaccharides,alkaloids( including:macamides,imidazoles,hydroxypyridines,carbazoles,organic amines and so on),glucosinolates,macaenes,thioethylurea,sterols and other chemical constituents. In recent years,more and more studies have found that it could treat osteoporosis and improve prostatehyperplasia,and possessed anti-cancer,female climacteric syndrome,rheumatism,antioxidant and other pharmacological effects. In this paper,the chemical constituents and bioactivity of Maca were reviewed,which could provide the basis for the further development and utilization of Maca.
Antioxidants ; Asteraceae ; Lepidium ; Peru ; Plant Extracts

63 of 348 patients patch tested with an European standard series, had positive reaction to either a fragrance mix or Balsam of Peru. Twelve showed positiv reaction to bot,h patches. The number of positive patch tests to the fragrance mix was 56, while those to Balsarn of Peru was 19 out, of the 63 patients, manifesting sensitivities of 83% and 30% repectively. The fragrance mix was considered a useful screening patch for fragrance allergies. Twenty-five of the patients showing fragrance allergy were further analysed with 8 individual fragrance ingredients at 2% petrolatum. Cinnamic aldehyde and cinnamic alcohol were considered as she most frequent and important. sensitizers.
Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Mass Screening ; Patch Tests* ; Peru ; Petrolatum

Propolis or bee glue is a product produced by bees, and has been used as a constituent in folk medicinal remedies in many parts of the world. Although allergic contact dermatitis to propolis is reported occasionally in beekeepers, its major occurrence is in persons who make use of natural- product remedies or of "biocosmetics", many of which are derived from beeswax or contain it. We report a case of non-occupational allergic contact dermatitis derived from the use of propolis ointment in the treatment of eczema. Our patient exhibited a simultaneous positive patch test to propolis and balsam of Peru.
Bees ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Eczema ; Humans ; Patch Tests ; Peru ; Propolis*

We have studied male patients with cosmetic allergy in patch test during 5 years from September, 1982 to August, 1986 (Group A) and during 7 1/2 years from March, 1988 to August, 1995 (Group B). The results are as follows. 1. In Group A, 7 patients were diagnosed as contact allergy due to cosmetics. In Group 13, 30 patients were diagnosed as contact allergy to cosmetics. 2. Sixteen patients were positive to only cosmetic related allergens. Two patients were positive to only their own cosmetic products. Nineteen patients were positive to both cosmetic related allergens and their own cosmetic products. 3. The age of patients with cosmetic allergy ranged from 10 to 70 years with a peak in the fifties. The patients more than 50 years were about 40% of all patients. 4. The most frequently, affected area was face(n=31) followed by neck(n=6) and scalp (n = 6 ). 5. Twenty four patients with cosmetic allergy had eczematous skin lesions. Thirteen patients had pigmented skin lesions and pigmented contact dermatitis was suspected. Two out of 13 patients with pig men ted skin lesions were positive in photopatch test. 6. Cosmetic related allergens showing frequent positive reactions were paraphenylene-aliamine, fragnance mix, balsam of Peru, benzyl salicylate, amerchol L101, oakmoss absolute, musk muskene. 7. Cosmetic products showing frequent positive reactions were skin care products, hair dye, soap, after shave lotion, shampoo and toothpaste. In conclusion, cosmetic allergy in men seems to increase in our society.
Allergens ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Male* ; Patch Tests ; Peru ; Scalp ; Skin ; Skin Care ; Soaps ; Toothpastes

BACKGROUND: The first multicenter study on standard patenest results(1983-1986) was tried in Korea. Since then 10 years have elapsed and epidemiologi al data need be updated continuously. OBJECTIVE: To register and compile the results of patch the ig throughout the country and to compare the positivity ard trend with those of previous study. METHODS: Standard patch testings were performed using irachamper on Scanpor tape. The results were analysed by a personal computer program. RESULTS: A total of 2326 patch tested cases(male 539, female 1787) were compiled and analysed. The highest ag distribution was 3rd decade. As the job distribution, housewives and office workers were the mast frequent consisting 33.4% and 12.1% respectively. The face was the most frequently affected site comprising 49.6%. The highesteritization rates were foud with nickel(17.9%), cobalt(13.8%), fragrance mix(12.9%), potass ur dichromate(11.3%), ammoniated mercury(8.7%), neoaycin(7.2%). The lowest positivity inclured black rubber mix(1.0%), primin (1.2%), ethylenediarnine(1.3%), carba mix(1.4%), While nicel epoxy resin and 4-t-butylphenol formaldehyde resin showed increased reactivities, PPD, bacrubber mix, balsam of Peru, quaternium 15, ammceniatct mercury and captan showd a deceased tendency when compared with those of previous study. CONCLUSION: The large scale studies of epidemiology in cortat dermatitis have been performed and they need to be updated and analysed consecutively in the future.
Captan ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Korea* ; Microcomputers ; Patch Tests ; Peru ; Rubber

The importance of garlic as a cause of hand eczema has been a matter of debate. Diallyldisulfide is considered as the main allergen in garlic. Twentv two antigens of the modified European standard series and diallyldisulfide of 5%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1% in petrolatum were patch tested in 44 patients with hand eczema. Diallylclisi.!lfide was also tested in 13 women as a control. The results were summerized as follows. l. In patch testing with the European standard series, nickel sulfate (22.7%), cobalt chloride (18.2%), fragrance mix (13.6%), balsam of Peru (9.1%) and termerosal (6.8%) were the cornmon allergens which showed positive reactions. The overal positive rate was 59.1 % (26/44). 2.5% diallyldisulfide showed an irritant reaction in 6 (46.2%) out of 13 controls and in 16 (36.4% ) out of 44 patients. 2% diallyldisulfide showed an irritant reaction in 2/13 (15.4 %) in the control group and 6/44 (13.6%) in the patient group. All 13 controls and 44 patients were negative iin tests with diallyldisulfide of 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%. Our results indicate that patch testing with diallyldisulfide of 1% petrolatum is reommended in order to avoid an irritant reaction when contact allergy to garlic is suspetel. 3. Garlic is suspected as an irritant in provoking hand eczema. True contact allergy to garlic in hand eczema seems to be rare.
Allergens ; Cobalt ; Eczema* ; Female ; Garlic* ; Hand* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Nickel ; Patch Tests ; Peru ; Petrolatum

The review article presents some of the history of how paleoparasitology started in Brazil, making highlight the great responsible Dr. Luiz Fernando Ferreira and Dr. Adauto Araújo, the trajectory of paleoparasitology in Brazil since 1978 and its performance in science to the present day. In sequence, it is made a presentation of parasitological findings on human remains found in archaeological sites in South America, highlighting Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru, where major discoveries have occurred. Many of the parasites found in archaeological material and mentioned in this review went out of Africa with the peopling of Europe and from there they dispersed around the world, where climatic conditions allow the transmission. However, humans have acquired other parasites of animals, since humans invaded new habitats or creating new habits adopting new technologies, thus expanding its range of influence on the environment. Thus, this review article is finalized with information that explain the importance of these findings in the interaction between parasites, human host, and ambient.
Africa ; Animals ; Argentina ; Brazil* ; Chile ; Ecosystem ; Europe ; Humans* ; Parasites ; Peru ; South America*

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this case report is to introduce the development process, structure, characteristics, and effectiveness of the web database (DB) system developed for the hypertension management program in the primary health care setting in the low-income urban areas of Peru. METHODS: A Korean research team cooperated with a Peruvian IT startup company to develop a web DB system to improve the data management of the hypertension management program. The entire web application infrastructure was hosted using the Amazon Web Service. Two different web platforms were established for the user groups of health workers and researchers (program managers). RESULTS: A total of 2,827 program participants were registered in the web DB system until December 2017. Health professionals can input the participant data while providing consultation to the program participants, and the data is accumulated in the web DB in real time. Input errors or data loss is prevented by setting restrictions in the data entry system. During the 4-year project period, 7,696 hours of working time and USD 39,536.48 for data management were saved as the result of web DB system utilization. CONCLUSIONS: The developed web DB system contributed to improve the health condition of the health program participants by providing necessary information to the health professionals at the right time. This case report could be a reference for other researcher to develop web databases for their own context, especially in developing countries.
Developing Countries ; Electronic Health Records ; Health Information Systems ; Health Occupations ; Hypertension* ; Peru* ; Primary Health Care*

BACKGROUND: Contact dermatitis is frequently caused by cosmetics. Detection of causative allergens is important in prevention and treatment of cosmetic contact dermatitis. Patch test has been accepted as the only reliable diagnostic method to detect allergens. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to clarify evoluting trends of positive patch tests and to compare the positive frequencies of various allergens between different time sequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed patch test results of the 806 cosmetic contact dermatitis patients, who had visited our clinic from 1982 to 1997. We divided the patients into three groups as follows: I group:1982-1987, II group:1988-1992, III group:1993-1997 and compared the test results. The patch tests were performed with standard batteries, cosmetic-related allergens and the patients's own cosmetics. RESULTS: The results of the studies were summarized as follows; 1. Trends of increasing positivity in cosmetic-induced dermatitis was noted in a chronologic point of view. Among the patients, an increased proportion of males was notable. 2. In age distribution, a decreasing proportion of patients at the third & the fourth decades was observed. Contrary to this, the proportion of patients over the fifth decades was increased. 3. Among standard allergens, nickel sulphate showed the highest positive rate in all defined triple periods, whereas positive rates of neomycin sulphate & balsam of Peru were diminishing sequentially. Among fragrance allergens, cinnamic alcohol & cinnamic aldehyde revealed the highest positive rates. 4. In as is test, skin care products showed the highest positive rate, followed by toiletries and makeup products. Increasing positive rates of the toiletry products were observed in order of time. In fragrance products, positive rates reached their peak in the second period and declined in the third period. CONCLUSION: This study showed that perfume components were the most frequent allergens in cosmetics followed by preservative agents. Our study showed that comestic allergies in men seems to have increased.
Age Distribution ; Allergens ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Male ; Neomycin ; Nickel ; Patch Tests* ; Perfume ; Peru ; Skin Tests

BACKGROUND: Eczematous cheilitis can be caused by endogenous or exogenous factors. Exogenous causes include contact of the lips with lipsticks, toothpastes, and topical medications. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the causative allergens in 56 eczematous cheilitis patients. METHODS: We identified patients who had visited the Department of Dermatology at Chonnam National University Hospital in Gwangju, Korea between January 2004 and February 2013. Clinical characteristics including age, gender, medical history, disease duration, and patch test results were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 56 patients with eczematous cheilitis, 41 (73.2%) tested positive to one or more antigens in the patch test. The patch test results were clinically relevant in 25 patients. Consequently, allergic contact cheilitis was diagnosed most commonly (25 patients, 44.6%), followed by irritant contact cheilitis (13 patients, 23.2%), and endogenous cheilitis (5 patients, 8.9%). The causative factors were undetermined in 13 patients (23.2%). CONCLUSION: The common causes of allergic contact cheilitis were exposure to lipstick casings, lip cosmetics such as lipsticks and lip balms, and products like toothpaste. Nickel sulfate was the most common antigen found in the patch test, followed by fragrance mix and balsam of Peru. Patch testing should be performed in patients with chronic eczematous cheilitis to identify possible causes of allergic contact dermatitis.
Allergens ; Cheilitis* ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatology ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Korea ; Lip ; Nickel ; Patch Tests* ; Peru ; Toothpastes