El Proyecto de Ley 222 sobre el bienestar animal: retos y oportunidades para el cuidado del animal de laboratorio

This article reviews the treatment of research with laboratory animals as contained in Draft Legislation 222 of the Colombian Senate. The bill is compared with international norms, such as the iclas guidelines, the ets 123 of the European Union and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the National Institutes of Health. Finally, the main limitations of the bill are addressed.El presente artículo revisa el tratamiento de la investigación con animales de laboratorio tal y como figuran en el Proyecto de Ley 222 del Senado de la República de Colombia. Se compara este proyecto de ley con normativas internacionales, tales como los lineamientos del International Council for Laboratory Animal Science (iclas), el ets 123 de la Unión Europea y la Guía para el Cuidado y Uso de Animales de Laboratorio del Instituto Norteamericano de Salud. Finalmente, se discuten las principales limitaciones del Proyecto de Ley

Effect of sampling frequency on automatically-generated activity and freezing scores in a Pavlovian fear-conditioning preparation

La respuesta condicionada de congelamiento tiene importancia conceptual de larga data para el Análisis Conductual, siendo clave en la explicación de las conductas de ansiedad. Aún cuando inicialmente fue medida de forma indirecta, mediante sus efectos sobre la conducta operante (como en el arreglo de supresión condicionada) y más tarde mediante la observación directa, recientemente se han hecho disponibles alternativas para la medición automática del movimiento que permiten también la medición del congelamiento condicionado. Estas nuevas técnicas de video permiten la medición directa y virtualmente constante de la actividad del organismo, por contraposición a las técnicas tradicionales de muestreo de tiempo características del registro observacional. En el presente artículo se compara el efecto de manipulaciones pavlovianas tradicionales sobre la sensibilidad de los de los índices automatizados de congelamiento y actividad, así como el posible efecto de la densidad de muestreo sobre dicha sensibilidad. Para ello se analizan datos provenientes de sesiones de extinción pavloviana de 42 ratones, recogidos con una frecuencia 30 Hz y transformados mediante una técnica de remuestreo, para luego ser analizado mediante un modelo lineal generalizado, a fin de determinar la magnitud del efecto de la presencia del estímulo condicionado en cada una de cuatro condiciones: puntajes brutos de actividad de alta y baja resolución y puntajes dicotómicos de congelamiento de alta y baja resolución. La resolución de los datos mostró ser la dimensión más relevante para la estimación de cambios locales de nivel en las series temporales individuales, siendo dichos cambios igualmente fáciles de detectar en los índices de congelamiento y de actividad. A diferencia de lo anterior, sólo las medidas de actividad de alta resolución permitieron la detección de cambios locales de tendencia

Análisis intra - sesión de la extinción del condicionamiento Pavloviano de miedo usando regresión robusta

Traditionally , the analysis of extinction data in fear conditioning experiments has involved the use of standard linear models, mostly ANOVA of between-group differences of subjects that have undergone different extinction protocols, pharmacological manipulations or some other treatment. Although some studies report individual differences in quantities such as suppression rates or freezing percentages, these differences are not included in the statistical modeling. Withinsubject response patterns are then averaged using coarse-grain time windows which can overlook these individual performance dynamics. Here we illustrate an alternative analytical procedure consisting of 2 steps: the estimation of a trend for within-session data and analysis of group differences in trend as main outcome. This procedure is tested on real fear-conditioning extinction data, comparing trend estimates via Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and robust Least Median of Squares (LMS) regression estimates, as well as comparing between-group differences and analyzing mean freezing percentage versus LMS slopes as outcomes.El análisis de datos de extinción en experimentos de miedo condicionado ha involucrado, tradicionalmente, el uso de modelos lineales estándar, primordialmente ANOVA de diferencias entre grupos de sujetos sometidos a diferentes protocolos de extinción, manipulaciones farmacológicas o algún otro tratamiento.Aún cuando algunos estudios reportan diferencias individuales en indicadores como tasas de supresión o porcentajes de congelamiento, esas diferencias no son incluidas en el análisis estadístico. Los patrones de respuesta intra-sujeto son entonces promediados usando ventanas temporales de baja resolución, las cuales pueden ignorar esta dinámica del desempeño individual. Este trabajo ilustra un procedimiento analítico alternativo que consta de 2 pasos: estimación de la tendencia para los datos intra-sesión y el análisis de las diferencias entre-grupo usando la tendencia como variable de respuesta. Este procedimiento se pone a prueba usando datos reales de extinción de miedo condicionado, comparando estimaciones de tendencia robusta vía Mínimos Cuadrados Medianos con Mínimos Cuadrados Ordinarios, y comparando las diferencias de grupo usando la pendiente robusta versus la mediana del porcentaje de congelamiento como variable dependiente

Perfil bibliográfico de las tesis de grado en un programa de psicología profesional

The bibliographic profile of 125 undergraduate (licentiate) theses was analyzed, describing absolute quantities of several bibliometric variables, as well as within-document indexes and average lags of the references. The results show a consistent pattern across the years in the 6 cohorts included in the sample (2001-2007), with variations, which fall within the robust confi dence intervals for the global central tendency. The median number of references per document was 52 (99% CI 47-55); the median  percentage of journal articles cited was 55%, with a median age for journal references of 9 years. Other highlights of the bibliographic profile were the use of foreign language references (median 61%), and low reliance on open web documents (median 2%). A cluster analysis of the bibliometric indexes resulted  in a typology of 2 main profiles, almost evenly distributed, one of them with the makeup of a natural science bibliographic profile and the second within the style of the humanities. In general, the number of references, proportion of papers, and age of the references are close to PhD dissertations and Master theses, setting a rather high standard for undergraduate theses.Se analizó el perfil bibliográfico de 125 tesis de grado (licenciatura), mediante la descripción de cantidades absolutas de diversas variables bibliométricas, así como los índices de los documentos y el promedio de rezago de las referencias. Los resultados muestran  un patrón consistente a lo largo de los años en las seis cohortes incluidas en la muestra (2001-2007), con variaciones, las cuales caen dentro de los intervalos de confianza robustos para la tendencia global central. El número medio de referencias por documento fue 52 (47-55 IC 99%); el porcentaje medio de artículos  de revistas citados fue de 55% con una edad media de referencias de revistas de 9 años. Otros aspectos destacados del perfil bibliográfico fueron el uso de referencias en lengua extranjera (61% de media) y baja dependencia de los documentos abiertos en la web (2% de media). Un análisis de conglomerados de los índices bibliométricos resultó en una tipología de los dos principales perfiles, distribuidos  casi por igual, uno de ellos con la marca del perfil bibliográfico de una ciencia natural, y el segundo dentro del estilo de las humanidades. En general, el número de referencias, la proporción de artículos y la edad de referencias están cerca de las disertaciones doctorales y las tesis de maestrías, estableciendo un estándar bastante alto para las tesis de grado

Quantitative analysis of the individual dynamics of Psychology theses

El presente trabajo analiza longitudinalmente tres cohortes de trabajos (n = 57) realizados por estudiantes de último año de pregrado en psicología, de la Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, usando cinco medidas de progreso. Se prueba un modelo aditivo generalizado para predecir el tiempo de culminación de los trabajos de grado, medido en dos niveles: temprano y demorado. Las medidas de magnitud de efecto favorecen un modelo de indicadores en múltiples dimensiones, por encima de uno de progreso global. La trayectoria de los indicadores a lo largo de las cinco medidas facilita diferenciar la culminación temprana de la demorada. Las probabilidades de culminación estimadas a partir del modelo basado en dimensiones permiten establecer niveles de oscilación diferenciales para los distintos tiempos de culminación. Los indicadores de progreso inicial habilitan predecir la culminación temprana con un 71% de acierto, mientras que la medición final tiene un acierto del 89%. Los resultados apoyan la efectividad del sistema de supervisión y el análisis de la dinámica de la progresión de los trabajos de grado desde un modelo de demora de tarea, centrado en la relación entre el monto de tarea completada y las metas temporales.Three cohorts of undergraduate psychology theses (n = 57) performed by last year undergraduate psychology students from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, were monitored using 5 longitudinal measurements of progression. A Generalized Additive Model, to predict the completion time of the theses, is tested against two completion times: early and delayed. Effect size measures favor a multiple dimension model over a global progress model. The trajectory of the indicators through the 5 measurements allows the differentiation between early and delayed completion. The completion probabilities estimated by the dimensional model allow the identification of differential oscillation levels for the distinct completion times. The initial progression indicators allow the prediction of early completion with a 71% success rate, while the final measurement shows a success rate of 89%. The results support the effectiveness of the supervisory system and the analysis of the progression dynamics of the theses from a task-delay model, focused on the relationship between the amount of task completion and the deadlines

Modelos animales: una revisión desde tres pruebas utilizadas en ansiedad

   El objetivo de este artículo es presentar una revisión de los modelos animales más utilizados para estudiar ansiedad, buscando hacer una presentación de tres instrumentos usados en laboratorio. Se describe la importancia del uso de modelos animales para la comprensión del comportamiento humano, se presentan los dos grupos de modelos animales y las pruebas más representativas para cada uno de éstos

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

In Silico Whole Genome Association Scan for Murine Prepulse Inhibition

Background The complex trait of prepulse inhibition (PPI) is a sensory gating measure related to schizophrenia and can be measured in mice. Large-scale public repositories of inbred mouse strain genotypes and phenotypes such as PPI can be used to detect Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) in silico. However, the method has been criticized for issues including insufficient number of strains, not controlling for false discoveries, the complex haplotype structure of inbred mice, and failing to account for genotypic and phenotypic subgroups. Methodology/Principal Findings We have implemented a method that addresses these issues by incorporating phylogenetic analyses, multilevel regression with mixed effects, and false discovery rate (FDR) control. A genome-wide scan for PPI was conducted using over 17,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 37 strains phenotyped. Eighty-nine SNPs were significant at a false discovery rate (FDR) of 5%. After accounting for long-range linkage disequilibrium, we found 3 independent QTLs located on murine chromosomes 1 and 13. One of the PPI positives corresponds to a region of human chromosome 6p which includes DTNBP1, a gene implicated in schizophrenia. Another region includes the gene Tsn which alters PPI when knocked out. These genes also appear to have correlated expression with PPI. Conclusions/Significance These results support the usefulness of using an improved in silico mapping method to identify QTLs for complex traits such as PPI which can be then be used for to help identify loci influencing schizophrenia in humans

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication