Entrevistas

Entrevistas com Cesar Coll e José Gimeno Sacristán.

Quality evaluation of innovative teaching in higher education. A constructivist perspective.

[ES] El cambio de cultura docente en educación superior, propiciado por el desarrollo de las directrices de Bolonia, ha supuesto la puesta en marcha de numerosos propuestas de innovación docente y ha traído como consecuencia la necesidad de evaluar la calidad de las mismas. En este marco, se ha desarrollado un proyecto de investigación para valorar el impacto de la innovación docente en la calidad de la enseñanza universitaria. Se han concretado las dimensiones base de la evaluación de la calidad y se han elaborado una serie de cinco instrumentos: tres para el profesor y dos para los alumnos. Los instrumentos han sido utilizados en la evaluación de la calidad de la docencia de tres propuestas de innovación de la docencia en la Universidad de Barcelona. [EN] In the last years we live important challenges in higher education, which generate a great number of innovative proposals. These challenges suppose a shift of culture and are propelled by the new reform directrix of Bologna. As a consequence of these changes the higher institutions experience as well the need of evaluation of quality. In this context, a research project has been carried out with the purpose of evaluating the impact of teaching innovation on the quality of higher teaching practices. The basic dimensions of quality evaluation have been determined and five instruments have been developed: three addressed to the teachers, two concerning the students. These instruments have been used for the quality evaluation of the teaching at three innovative teaching proposals at the University of Barcelona.Mauri, T.; Coll, C.; Onrubia, J. (2007). La evaluación de la calidad de los procesos de innovación docente universitaria. Una perspectiva constructivista. REDU. Revista de Docencia Universitaria. 5(1):1-11. https://doi.org/10.4995/redu.2007.6290OJS11151Barberá, E. (2003). Estado y tendencias de la evaluación en educación superior. Revista de la Red Estatal de Docencia Universitaria. Vol.3, 2, 5-18.Coll, C. (2001). Constructivismo y educación: la concepción constructivista de la enseñanza y del aprendizaje. En C. Coll, J. Palacios y A. Marchesi (comps.) Desarrollo Psicológico y Educación. Vol 2. Psicología de la Educación Escolar (pp. 157-186). Madrid. Alianza Editorial.Coll, C. (2004). Psicología de la educación y prácticas educativas mediadas por las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación: una mirada constructivista. Sinéctica, 25, 1-24.Coll, C., Martin, E. y Onrubia, J. (2001). La evaluación del aprendizaje escolar: dimensiones psicológicas, pedagógicas y sociales. En C. Coll, J. Palacios y A. Marchesi (comp.) Desarrollo Psicológico y Educación. Vol 2. Psicología de la Educación Escolar (pp. 549-567). Madrid. Alianza Editorial.Coll, C., Colomina, R., Onrubia, J., y Rochera, M. J. (1992). Actividad conjunta y habla: una aproximación al estudio de los mecanismos de influencia educativa. Infancia y Aprendizaje, 59-60, 189-232. https://doi.org/10.1080/02103702.1992.10822356Marchesi, A. y Martin, E. (1998). Calidad de la enseñanza en tiempos de cambio. Madrid: Alianza Editorial.Mauri, T., Onrubia, J., Coll, C. y Colomina, R. (2005). La calidad de los contenidos educativos reutilizables: diseño, usabilidad y prácticas de uso. RED. Revista de Educación a Distancia. Monográfico II. En http://www.wa/ead/red/M2 [2006, 12 de setiembre]Onrubia, J. (2005). Aprender y enseñar en entornos virtuales: actividad conjunta, ayuda pedagógica y construcción del conocimiento. RED. Revista de Educación a Distancia. Monográfico II. En http://www.wa/ead/red/M2 [2006, 12 de setiembre]Cots, J.M., Villar, J.M. y Díaz, J. M. (2002). Qué se pregunta y qué se entiende: Aná- lisis de algunos conceptos utilizados en la encuesta de opinión de los estudiantes sobre la docencia. Revista de la Red Estatal de Docencia Universitaria. Vol. 2, 1, 5-14.Vizcarro, C. (2003). Evaluación de la calidad de la docencia para su mejora. Revista de la Red Estatal de Docencia Universitaria. Vol.3, 1, 5-18

Rapid colorimetric detection of wound infection with a fluidic paper device

Current procedures for the assessment of chronic wound infection are time-consuming and require complex instruments and trained personnel. The incidence of chronic wounds worldwide, and the associated economic burden, urge for simple and cheap point-of-care testing (PoCT) devices for fast on-site diagnosis to enable appropriate early treatment. The enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO), whose activity in infected wounds is about ten times higher than in non-infected wounds, appears to be a suitable biomarker for wound infection diagnosis. Herein, we develop a single-component foldable paper-based device for the detection of MPO in wound fluids. The analyte detection is achieved in two steps: (i) selective immunocapture of MPO, and (ii) reaction of a specific dye with the captured MPO, yielding a purple color with increasing intensity as a function of the MPO activity in infected wounds in the range of 20–85 U/mL. Ex vivo experiments with wound fluids validated the analytic efficiency of the paper-based device, and the results strongly correlate with a spectrophotometric assay.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

One-pot synthesis and insecticidal activity of 5-amino-1-aryl- 1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitriles

Synthesis of 5-amino-1-aryl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitriles was performed by direct condensation of 29 (ethoxymethylene)malononitrile and aryl hydrazines. The resulting N,N-containing heterocycles possess 30 insecticidal properties relative to microlepidoptera species, plant phatogens. The insecticidal activity of 31 four novel synthetic N-aryl pyrazoles to Tuta absoluta larvae was assessed. Fipronil, a well-known aryl 32 pyrazole insecticide, was also tested as the positive control. A generalized linear model reported 33 significant differences in efficacy and tomato leaf consumption among the different treatments. Fipronil 34 treatment was the most effective one (100% mortality after 48 h), followed by 5-amino-1-phenyl-1H-35 pyrazole-4-carbonitrile treatment (3c) (75% mortality after 48 h) and 5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-36 (trifluoromethyl)-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile treatment (3b) (60% mortality after 48 h). These 37 compounds, with simpler structures than Fipronil, could be used as novel insecticides.Fil: Plem, Silvana Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Machuca, Laura Marcela. Universidad de la Cuenca del Plata. Secretaria de Politicas del Conocimiento. Instituto de Investigaciones (sede Formosa).; ArgentinaFil: Gutierrez, Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Coll Araoz, Maria Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Van Nieuwenhove, Guido Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Virla, Eduardo Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Murguia, Marcelo Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquimica y Ciencias Biologicas. Laboratorio de Química Aplicada.; Argentin

Smallanthus macroscyphus: a new source of antidiabetic compounds

The aim of the present study was to analyze the in vivo hypoglycaemic effects of both decoction of Smallanthus macroscyphus leaves and pure crystalline polymatin A isolated from its leaves. Phytochemical analysis of the leaf decoction showed that its major constituents were caffeic, chlorogenic and three dicaffeoilquinic acids, together with the sesquiterpene lactone polymatin A. Oral glucose tolerance test in normal rats was performed to evaluate the hypoglycemic activity and to choose the minimum effective dose of the decoction and polymatin A. They have effective hypoglycemic activity at the minimum dose of 140 mg dry extract and 14 mg crystalline powder/kg body weight, respectively, and were selected for the following experiments. Oral administration of a single-dose of decoction produced a moderate lowering effect in fasting glycemia of normal rats, whereas polymatin A had no significant effect. We also assessed the effect of a single-dose on post-prandial blood glucose, resulting in an inhibition of the hyperglycemic peak after sucrose overload. Daily administration of decoction or polymatin A for 4 weeks produced an effective glycemic control in diabetic animals, with a decrease in urinary glucose excretion and a significant reduction in the HbA1c levels. Although there were no significant increases in plasma insulin levels, both treatments improved the fasting blood glucose/insulin ratio. In vivo acute toxicity studies were performed in adult Wistar rats. There were no deaths or signs of toxicity observed after oral administration of decoction or polymatin A at any dose level up to the highest dose tested (14.0 g /kg and 2.8 g /kg, respectively). The results presented here strongly support the notion that S. macroscyphus represents a new source of antidiabetic compounds that could help to manage diabetes more efficiently and safely.Fil: Serra Barcellona, Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Coll Araoz, Maria Victoria. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto de Ecología Regional; ArgentinaFil: Cabrera, Wilfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Habib, Natalia Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Honore, Stella Maris. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Catalan, Cesar Atilio Nazareno. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto de Quimica del Noroeste; ArgentinaFil: Grau, Alfredo. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto de Ecología Regional; ArgentinaFil: Genta, Susana B.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Sanchez, Sara Serafina del V.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentin

Reconstitución inmune exitosa mediante trasplante de células madre hematopoyéticas en un paciente colombiano afectado con enfermedad granulomatosa crónica

Introduction: Chronic granulomatous disease is a primary immunodeficiency that results from mutations in proteins of the NADPH oxidase system that affect the microbicidal activity of phagocytes. Immune reconstitution by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is currently the only curative therapy for this disease. Objective: To describe the clinical and molecular characterization of a patient with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease and the successful immune reconstitution by means of a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Methods: The respiratory burst was measured by flow cytometry using the dihydrorodamine 123 (DHR) oxidation test in neutrophils of peripheral blood. Mutational analysis of CYBB was performed by PCR amplification in complementary DNA, as well as sequencing and comparative genomic hybridization in genomic DNA. HLA-identical stem cells from the patient’s younger brother were used for the transplantation and reduced intensity pre-transplantation conditioning was administered. Post-transplantation immune reconstitution was evaluated periodically by serial complete blood counts and DHR 123 in peripheral blood neutrophils. Results: The diagnosis of X-linked chronic granulomatous disease resulted from a hemizygous deletion affecting Xp21.1 that included the entire CYBB. Post-transplantation engraftment was documented in platelets and peripheral blood neutrophils at days 10 and 11, respectively. Total hematological reconstitution was achieved by day 30 post-transplantation and no complications or infections have been observed in the three years since the transplantation. Conclusion: Hemopoietic stem cell transplantation allows for total reconstitution of the immune function related to microbicidal activity of phagocytic cells from patients with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease.Introducción. La enfermedad granulomatosa crónica es una inmunodeficiencia primaria causada por mutaciones en los genes que codifican para las proteínas del sistema de la oxidasa de NADPH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate) de las células fagocíticas, las cuales afectan la producción de especies reactivas del oxígeno y la actividad microbicida. Actualmente, la única terapia curativa para esta enfermedad es la reconstitución inmune mediante el trasplante de células madre hematopoyéticas.Objetivo. Reportar la caracterización clínica y molecular de un paciente con enfermedad granulomatosa crónica ligada al cromosoma X y su reconstitución inmunitaria exitosa mediante el trasplante de células madre hematopoyéticas.Materiales y métodos. El estallido respiratorio en neutrófilos de sangre periférica se midió por citometría de flujo mediante la prueba de oxidación de la dihidrorrodamina 123 (DHR 123). El análisis de las mutaciones del gen CYBB se hizo mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) en el ADN complementario y la secuenciación e hibridación genómica comparativa en el ADN genómico. En el trasplante se emplearon células madre del hermano menor con HLA idéntico, y previamente se hizo un acondicionamiento de intensidad reducida. La reconstitución inmunitaria después del trasplante se evaluó periódicamente con hemoleucogramas y la prueba DHR 123 en neutrófilos de sangre periférica.Resultados. El diagnóstico de la enfermedad granulomatosa crónica ligada al cromosoma X se estableció como resultado de una deleción hemicigota en la banda Xp21.1 que implicó la deleción completa del CYBB. La toma de injerto postrasplante para plaquetas y neutrófilos fue en los días 10 y 11, respectivamente. En el día 30 después del trasplante se logró la reconstitución hematológica completa y en los tres años siguientes no se observaron complicaciones ni infecciones.Conclusión. El trasplante de células madre hematopoyéticas permite la reconstitución completa de la función inmunitaria relacionada con la actividad microbicida de las células fagocíticas de pacientes con enfermedad granulomatosa crónica ligada al cromosoma X

Malignant Arrhythmogenic Role Associated with RBM20: A Comprehensive Interpretation Focused on a Personalized Approach

The RBM20 gene encodes the muscle-specific splicing factor RNA-binding motif 20, a regulator of heart-specific alternative splicing. Nearly 40 potentially deleterious variants in RBM20 have been reported in the last ten years, being found to be associated with highly arrhythmogenic events in familial dilated cardiomyopathy. Frequently, malignant arrhythmias can be a primary manifestation of disease. The early recognition of arrhythmic genotypes is crucial in avoiding lethal episodes, as it may have an impact on the adoption of personalized preventive measures. Our study performs a comprehensive update of data concerning rare variants in RBM20 that are associated with malignant arrhythmogenic phenotypes with a focus on personalized medicine.This work was supported by Obra Social "La Caixa Foundation" (LCF/PR/GN16/50290001 and LCF/PR/GN19/50320002), Fondo Investigacion Sanitaria (FIS PI16/01203 and FIS, PI17/01690) from Instituto Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), and "Fundacio Privada Daniel Bravo Andreu". CIBERCV is an initiative of the ISCIII, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: what do we need to know?

AbstractCommunity-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has become a matter of concern worldwide, in particular in the USA. For the analysis of emergence and spread, clear definitions based on epidemiological origin are needed for discrimination between CA-MRSA, healthcare-associated community MRSA, and healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). Although its role in pathogenesis is currently under debate, the capability for Panton–Valentine leukocidin formation is associated with the majority of CA-MRSA isolates from North America and from Europe. Most CA-MRSA isolates are attributed to clonal lineages different from HA-MRSA; there are, however, clonal lineages from which both HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA have been reported (e.g. ST1, ST5, ST8, and ST22); CA-MRSA ST8 (USA300), which is most frequent in the USA, has meanwhile been reported from Europe. CA-MRSA ST80 is widely disseminated in Europe; because of its pronounced oxacillin heteroresistance phenotype, cefoxitin-based assays are advisable for reliable detection. So far, CA-MRSA infections seem to be much less frequent in Europe than in the USA, where patients with particular predispositions and low social status are at especial risk

Structural Heart Alterations in Brugada Syndrome: Is it Really a Channelopathy? A Systematic Review

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is classified as an inherited cardiac channelopathy attributed to dysfunctional ion channels and/or associated proteins in cardiomyocytes rather than to structural heart alterations. However, hearts of some BrS patients exhibit slight histologic abnormalities, suggesting that BrS could be a phenotypic variant of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. We performed a systematic review of the literature following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement (PRISMA) criteria. Our comprehensive analysis of structural findings did not reveal enough definitive evidence for reclassification of BrS as a cardiomyopathy. The collection and comprehensive analysis of new cases with a definitive BrS diagnosis are needed to clarify whether some of these structural features may have key roles in the pathophysiological pathways associated with malignant arrhythmogenic episodes

Large Genomic Imbalances in Brugada Syndrome

Purpose Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a form of cardiac arrhythmia which may lead to sudden cardiac death. The recommended genetic testing (direct sequencing of SCN5A) uncovers disease-causing SNVs and/or indels in ~20% of cases. Limited information exists about the frequency of copy number variants (CNVs) in SCN5A in BrS patients, and the role of CNVs in BrS-minor genes is a completely unexplored field. Methods 220 BrS patients with negative genetic results were studied to detect CNVs in SCN5A. 63 cases were also screened for CNVs in BrS-minor genes. Studies were performed by Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification or Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). Results The detection rate for CNVs in SCN5A was 0.45% (1/220). The detected imbalance consisted of a duplication from exon 15 to exon 28, and could potentially explain the BrS phenotype. No CNVs were found in BrS-minor genes. Conclusion CNVs in current BrS-related genes are uncommon among BrS patients. However, as these rearrangements may underlie a portion of cases and they undergo unnoticed by traditional sequencing, an appealing alternative to conventional studies in these patients could be targeted NGS, including in a single experiment the study of SNVs, indels and CNVs in all the known BrS-related genes