Instructivo metodológico como guía para evaluar proyectos de investigación de tesis de maestrías en salud / Methodological instruction as a guide to evaluate research projects on Master's Degree theses in the specialty of Health

Se realizó una investigación documental fundamentada en criterios de expertos de carácter explicativo sobre un instructivo metodológico, que sirva de guía para los compañeros que forman parte de los comités evaluadores de proyectos de investigación de Maestrías de amplio acceso en Salud, para integrar las acciones científicas de evaluación. El universo y muestra estuvo representado por 8 compañeros que forman parte del Comité Académico de la Maestría de Atención Integral al Niño y un funcionario de la FCM de Pinar del Río. El instructivo propuesto ha sido validado en las siguientes Maestrías: Atención Integral al Niño, Atención Integral a la Mujer y Urgencias Médicas. Dicho instructivo aporta los aspectos metodológicos a evaluar dentro de un Proyecto de Tesis de Maestría y propone una hoja de evaluación para dichos proyectos. Palabras clave: INVESTIGACIÓN, EVALUACIÓN EDUCACIONAL/investigadores, EDUCACIÓN MÉDICA, DISERTACIONES ACADÉMICAS. ABSTRACT A documentary research having explicative characteristics based on criteria of experts about a methodological instruction as a guide was carried out. This was created by those professionals who belong to the committee of evaluators incharge of research projects of Master's Degree in Health who can integrate the scientific actions for evaluation. Tje sample was represented by 8 professionals being part of the Academic Committee of the Master's Degree in Comprehensive Care to Children and a specialist from the Medical School in Pinar del Río. The Methodological Instruction suggested has been validated in the following Master´s Degree courses. Comprehensive Care to Chidren, Comprehensive Care to  Women and Medical  Emrgencies. Such Methodological Instruction contributes to methodological features to be evaluated into a a project thesis to opt for a Master's Degree and it also suggests avaluation  sheet for these projects. Key words: RESEARCH, EDUCATIONAL EVALUATION/researchers , MEDICAL EDUCATION, ACADEMIC DISSERTATION

Instructivo metodológico como guía para evaluar proyectos de investigación de tesis de maestrías en salud / Methodological instruction as a guide to evaluate research projects on Master's Degree theses in the specialty of Health

Se realizó una investigación documental fundamentada en criterios de expertos de carácter explicativo sobre un instructivo metodológico, que sirva de guía para los compañeros que forman parte de los comités evaluadores de proyectos de investigación de Maestrías de amplio acceso en Salud, para integrar las acciones científicas de evaluación. El universo y muestra estuvo representado por 8 compañeros que forman parte del Comité Académico de la Maestría de Atención Integral al Niño y un funcionario de la FCM de Pinar del Río. El instructivo propuesto ha sido validado en las siguientes Maestrías: Atención Integral al Niño, Atención Integral a la Mujer y Urgencias Médicas. Dicho instructivo aporta los aspectos metodológicos a evaluar dentro de un Proyecto de Tesis de Maestría y propone una hoja de evaluación para dichos proyectos. Palabras clave: INVESTIGACIÓN, EVALUACIÓN EDUCACIONAL/investigadores, EDUCACIÓN MÉDICA, DISERTACIONES ACADÉMICAS. ABSTRACT A documentary research having explicative characteristics based on criteria of experts about a methodological instruction as a guide was carried out. This was created by those professionals who belong to the committee of evaluators incharge of research projects of Master's Degree in Health who can integrate the scientific actions for evaluation. Tje sample was represented by 8 professionals being part of the Academic Committee of the Master's Degree in Comprehensive Care to Children and a specialist from the Medical School in Pinar del Río. The Methodological Instruction suggested has been validated in the following Master´s Degree courses. Comprehensive Care to Chidren, Comprehensive Care to  Women and Medical  Emrgencies. Such Methodological Instruction contributes to methodological features to be evaluated into a a project thesis to opt for a Master's Degree and it also suggests avaluation  sheet for these projects. Key words: RESEARCH, EDUCATIONAL EVALUATION/researchers , MEDICAL EDUCATION, ACADEMIC DISSERTATION

Instructivo metodológico como guía para evaluar proyectos de investigación de tesis de maestrías en salud Methodological instruction as a guide to evaluate research projects on Master's Degree theses in the specialty of Health

Se realizó una investigación documental fundamentada en criterios de expertos de carácter explicativo sobre un instructivo metodológico, que sirva de guía para los compañeros que forman parte de los comités evaluadores de proyectos de investigación de Maestrías de amplio acceso en Salud, para integrar las acciones científicas de evaluación. El universo y muestra estuvo representado por 8 compañeros que forman parte del Comité Académico de la Maestría de Atención Integral al Niño y un funcionario de la FCM de Pinar del Río. El instructivo propuesto ha sido validado en las siguientes Maestrías: Atención Integral al Niño, Atención Integral a la Mujer y Urgencias Médicas. Dicho instructivo aporta los aspectos metodológicos a evaluar dentro de un Proyecto de Tesis de Maestría y propone una hoja de evaluación para dichos proyectos.A documentary research having explicative characteristics based on criteria of experts about a methodological instruction as a guide was carried out. This was created by those professionals who belong to the committee of evaluators incharge of research projects of Master's Degree in Health who can integrate the scientific actions for evaluation. Tje sample was represented by 8 professionals being part of the Academic Committee of the Master's Degree in Comprehensive Care to Children and a specialist from the Medical School in Pinar del Río. The Methodological Instruction suggested has been validated in the following Master´s Degree courses. Comprehensive Care to Chidren, Comprehensive Care to Women and Medical Emrgencies. Such Methodological Instruction contributes to methodological features to be evaluated into a a project thesis to opt for a Master's Degree and it also suggests avaluation sheet for these projects

Deletion of a single helix from the transmembrane domain causes large changes in membrane insertion properties and secondary structure of the bacterial conjugation protein TrwB

TrwB is an essential protein in the conjugative transfer of plasmid R388. The protein consists of a bulky cytosolic domain containing the catalytic site, and a small transmembrane domain (TMD). Our previous studies support the idea that the TMD plays an essential role in the activity, structure and stability of the protein. We have prepared a mutant, TrwBΔN50 that lacks one of the two α-helices in the TMD. The mutant has been studied both in detergent suspension and reconstituted in lipid vesicles. Deletion of a single helix from the TMD is enough to increase markedly the affinity of TrwB for ATP. The deletion changes the secondary structure of the cytosolic domain, whose infrared spectroscopy (IR) spectra become similar to those of the mutant TrwBΔN70 lacking the whole TMD. Interestingly, when TrwBΔN50 is reconstituted into lipid membranes, the cytosolic domain orients itself towards the vesicle interior, opposite to what happens for wild-type TrwB. In addition, we analyze the secondary structure of the TMD and TMD-lacking mutant TrwBΔN70, and found that the sum IR spectrum of the two protein fragments is different from that of the native protein, indicating the irreversibility of changes caused in TrwB by deletion of the TMD. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.This work was supported with funds from the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Grant No. BFU2007-62062) and the Basque Government (Grant No. IT-461-07). A.J.V. was a postdoctoral scientist supported by the University of the Basque Country. R.L.S. was a postdoctoral scientist supported by Basque Government. Work in the de la Cruz laboratory was supported by Spanish Ministry of Education (BFU2011-26608).Peer Reviewe

Membrane insertion stabilizes the structure of TrwB, the R388 conjugative plasmid coupling protein

TrwB is an integral membrane protein that plays a crucial role in the conjugative process of plasmid R388. We have recently shown [Vecino et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1798(11), 2160-2169 (2010)] that TrwB can be reconstituted into liposomes, and that bilayer incorporation increases its affinity for nucleotides and its specificity for ATP. In the present contribution we examine the structural effects of membrane insertion on TrwB, by comparing the protein in reconstituted form and in the form of protein/lipid/detergent mixed micelles. TrwB was reconstituted in PE:PG:CL (76.3:19.6:4.1 mol ratio) with a final 99:1 lipid:protein mol ratio. This lipid mixture is intended to mimic the bacterial inner membrane composition, and allows a more efficient reconstitution than other lipid mixtures tested. The studies have been carried out mainly using infrared spectroscopy, because this technique provides simultaneously information on both the lipid and protein membrane components. Membrane reconstitution of TrwB is accompanied by a decrease in β-sheet contents and an increase in β-strand structures, probably related to protein-protein contacts in the bilayer. The predominant α-helical component remains unchanged. The bilayer-embedded protein becomes thermally more stable, and also more resistant to trypsin digestion. The properties of the bilayer lipids are also modified in the presence of TrwB, the phospholipid acyl chains are slightly ordered, and the phosphate groups at the interface become more accessible to water. In addition, we observe that the protein thermal denaturation affects the lipid thermal transition profile. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.This work was supported with funds from the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Grant No. BFU2007-62062), from MICINN (Grant No. BFU2010-22103) and from LSHM-CT-2005_019023 (European VI Framework Program). R.L.S.was a postdoctoral scientist supported by a CSIC I3P postdoctoral fellowship. A.J.V. was a postdoctoral scientist supported by the University of the Basque Country.Peer Reviewe

Prevalence of hepatic steatosis as assessed by controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) in subjects with metabolic risk factors in primary care. A population-based study.

BACKGROUND:Primary care is the ideal setting for early identification of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a potentially progressive disease that may lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer but is frequently underrecognized because subjects at risk are often not evaluated. Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is a reliable method for non-invasive quantification of liver fat. It has the advantage of simultaneous measurement of liver stiffness (LS), an estimate of liver fibrosis. There is no information on CAP in subjects with risk factors from primary care. AIM:To investigate the prevalence of hepatic steatosis, as estimated by CAP, in subjects from the community with metabolic risk factors and correlate findings with clinical and biochemical characteristics and LS. PATIENTS AND METHODS:Population-based study of 215 subjects with metabolic risk factors without known liver disease identified randomly from a primary care center. A control group of 80 subjects matched by age and sex without metabolic risk factors was also studied. CAP and LS were assessed using Fibroscan. RESULTS:Subjects with risk factors had CAP values higher than those of control group (268±64 vs 243±49dB/m,p 280dB/m) in subjects with risk factors was 43%. In multivariate analysis, fatty liver index (FLI) and HOMA were independent predictive factors of severe steatosis. There was a direct correlation between CAP and FLI values (r = 0.52,p<0.001). Interestingly, prevalence of increased LS was 12.6% in the risk group vs 0% in the control group (p<0.001). Increased LS occurred predominantly in subjects with high CAP values. CONCLUSIONS:A high proportion of subjects with metabolic risk factors seen in primary care have severe steatosis. FLI could be used as a surrogate of CAP. Increased LS was found in a significant proportion of subjects with risk factors but not in control subjects

Prevalence of hepatic steatosis as assessed by controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) in subjects with metabolic risk factors in primary care. A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Primary care is the ideal setting for early identification of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a potentially progressive disease that may lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer but is frequently underrecognized because subjects at risk are often not evaluated. Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is a reliable method for non-invasive quantification of liver fat. It has the advantage of simultaneous measurement of liver stiffness (LS), an estimate of liver fibrosis. There is no information on CAP in subjects with risk factors from primary care. AIM: To investigate the prevalence of hepatic steatosis, as estimated by CAP, in subjects from the community with metabolic risk factors and correlate findings with clinical and biochemical characteristics and LS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Population-based study of 215 subjects with metabolic risk factors without known liver disease identified randomly from a primary care center. A control group of 80 subjects matched by age and sex without metabolic risk factors was also studied. CAP and LS were assessed using Fibroscan. RESULTS: Subjects with risk factors had CAP values higher than those of control group (268±64 vs 243±49dB/m,p 280dB/m) in subjects with risk factors was 43%. In multivariate analysis, fatty liver index (FLI) and HOMA were independent predictive factors of severe steatosis. There was a direct correlation between CAP and FLI values (r = 0.52,p<0.001). Interestingly, prevalence of increased LS was 12.6% in the risk group vs 0% in the control group (p<0.001). Increased LS occurred predominantly in subjects with high CAP values. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of subjects with metabolic risk factors seen in primary care have severe steatosis. FLI could be used as a surrogate of CAP. Increased LS was found in a significant proportion of subjects with risk factors but not in control subjects

Prevalence of hepatic steatosis as assessed by controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) in subjects with metabolic risk factors in primary care. A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Primary care is the ideal setting for early identification of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a potentially progressive disease that may lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer but is frequently underrecognized because subjects at risk are often not evaluated. Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is a reliable method for non-invasive quantification of liver fat. It has the advantage of simultaneous measurement of liver stiffness (LS), an estimate of liver fibrosis. There is no information on CAP in subjects with risk factors from primary care. AIM: To investigate the prevalence of hepatic steatosis, as estimated by CAP, in subjects from the community with metabolic risk factors and correlate findings with clinical and biochemical characteristics and LS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Population-based study of 215 subjects with metabolic risk factors without known liver disease identified randomly from a primary care center. A control group of 80 subjects matched by age and sex without metabolic risk factors was also studied. CAP and LS were assessed using Fibroscan. RESULTS: Subjects with risk factors had CAP values higher than those of control group (268±64 vs 243±49dB/m,p 280dB/m) in subjects with risk factors was 43%. In multivariate analysis, fatty liver index (FLI) and HOMA were independent predictive factors of severe steatosis. There was a direct correlation between CAP and FLI values (r = 0.52,p<0.001). Interestingly, prevalence of increased LS was 12.6% in the risk group vs 0% in the control group (p<0.001). Increased LS occurred predominantly in subjects with high CAP values. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of subjects with metabolic risk factors seen in primary care have severe steatosis. FLI could be used as a surrogate of CAP. Increased LS was found in a significant proportion of subjects with risk factors but not in control subjects