FORMACIÓN CIENTÍFICA STEM, EXPERIENCIAS DE APRENDIZAJE A PARTIR DE CLUBES DE CIENCIAS

The teaching of logical thinking as an activity oriented to scientific education contributes to the training of critical citizens, both in formal and non-formal scenarios. Within science clubs, children are guided to a formal research process, including exposure and disclosure of results. This document describes the working methodology implemented with children aged 4 to 12 years, actors, their roles and the products generated over five years of their implementation in urban and rural communities in Mexico. The experiences generated in two science clubs are integrated. With this support, a systematized working guide was developed for improved practice. As part of the evaluation, interviews have been conducted with the participating children, who have made it possible to know their perceptions of the work they do within them, with which a descriptive analysis of the experiences was carried out. In the reported work cycle, more than 50 children have been trained, who have performed outstandingly in national and international science competitions, which has enabled them to improve their investigative, argumentation and problem-solving skills. The work carried out has made it possible to contribute positively to the training of children, as well as the way in which they make problem-solving proposals, evaluate the quality of sources and make arguments during the development and presentation of the work.O ensino do pensamento lógico como atividade orientada para a educação científica contribui para a formação de cidadãos críticos, tanto em contextos formais como não formais. Nos clubes de ciências, as crianças são orientadas por um processo formal de pesquisa, que inclui a apresentação e divulgação dos resultados. Este documento descreve a metodologia de trabalho implementada com crianças de 4 a 12 anos, os atores, seus papéis e os produtos gerados ao longo dos 5 anos de sua implantação em comunidades urbanas e rurais no México. As experiências de trabalho em dois clubes de ciências são integradas. Com esse apoio, foi elaborado um guia de trabalho sistematizado para aprimorar a prática. Como parte da avaliação, foram realizadas entrevistas com as crianças participantes, que permitiram conhecer suas percepções sobre o trabalho que desenvolvem com elas, com o qual foi realizada uma análise descritiva das experiências. No ciclo de trabalho relatado, foram formadas cerca de 50 crianças, que tiveram um desempenho notável em concursos de ciências a nível nacional e internacional, o que lhes permitiu melhorar as suas competências investigativas, argumentativas e de resolução de problemas. O trabalho realizado tem permitido contribuir positivamente para as crenças das crianças, bem como a forma como estas apresentam propostas de soluções para os problemas, avaliam a qualidade das fontes e argumentam durante o desenvolvimento e apresentação dos trabalhos.La enseñanza del pensamiento lógico como actividad orientada a la educación científica, contribuye a la formación de ciudadanos críticos, tanto en escenarios formales como no formales. Dentro de los clubes de ciencia se guía a los niños a un proceso formal de investigación, que incluye la exposición y divulgación de resultados. El presente documento describe la metodología de trabajo implementada con niños de 4 hasta 12 años de edad, los actores, sus roles y los productos generados a lo largo de cinco años de su puesta en marcha en comunidades urbanas y rurales de México. Se integran las experiencias generadas en dos clubes de ciencias. Con este respaldo se elaboró una guía de trabajo sistematizada para una mejora de la práctica. Como parte de la evaluación, se han realizado entrevistas a los niños participantes, que han permitido conocer sus percepciones hacia el trabajo que realizan dentro de los mismos, con lo cual se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las experiencias. En el ciclo de trabajo reportado, se ha logrado formar a más de 50 niños, quienes han tenido un desempeño sobresaliente en concursos de ciencia a nivel nacional e internacional, que les ha permitido mejorar sus habilidades investigativas, de argumentación y de solución de problemas. El trabajo realizado ha permitido contribuir positivamente en la formación de los niños, así como la forma en la que realizan propuestas de solución a problemas, evalúan la calidad de las fuentes y realizan las argumentaciones durante el desarrollo y presentación de los trabajos

Use of a rapid test on umbilical cord blood to screen for Trypanosoma cruzi infection in pregnant women in Argentina, Bolivia, Honduras, and Mexico

Fil: Sosa-Estani, Sergio. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Centro Nacional de Diagnóstico e Investigación en Endemo-Epidemias; Argentina.Fil: Gamboa-León, Miriam Rubi. Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán. Laboratorio de Parasitología; México.Fil: Del Cid-Lemus, Jaime. Intibucá. Región Sanitaria No. 10; Honduras.Fil: Althabe, Fernando. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentina.Fil: Alger, Jackeline. Instituto de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitología Antonio Vidal; Honduras.Fil: Almendares, Olivia. Tulane University. School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine; Estados Unidos.Fil: Cafferata, María L. Hospital de Clínicas. Unidad de Investigación Clínica y Epidemiológica Montevideo; Uruguay.Fil: Chippaux, Jean-Philippe. L'Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD); Bolivia.Fil: Dumonteil, Eric. Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán. Laboratorio de Parasitología; México.Fil: Gibbons, Luz. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentina.Fil: Schneider, Dominique. L'Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD); Bolivia.Fil: Belizán, José M. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentina.Fil: Buekens, Pierre. Tulane University. School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine; Estados Unidos.Fil: Padilla-Raygoza, Nicolás. Universidad de Guanajuato; México.Fil: Perinatal Chagas Disease Working Group; Estados Unidos.We conducted a cross-sectional study of Chagas disease in five endemic areas in Argentina, Bolivia, Honduras, and México to estimate the prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi–specific antibodies in pregnant women, and to assess the use of a rapid test (Chagas Stat-Pak) to screen for T. cruzi infection at the time of delivery. The prevalence of antibodies to T. cruzi measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in maternal blood was 5.5% (a range of 0.8–28.8% among the countries) in 2,495 women enrolled. Compared with ELISA in maternal blood samples, the Chagas Stat-Pak rapid test sensitivity and specificity in umbilical cord blood were 94.6% and 99.0%, respectively. These results show the ability for a rapid determination of the presence of T. cruzi–specific antibodies in umbilical cord blood as a pragmatic strategy to screen for infection in pregnant women

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Do commercial serologic tests for Trypanosoma cruzi infection detect Mexican strains in women and newborns?

Fil: Gamboa-León, Rubi. Tulane University. School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine; Estados Unidos.Fil: González-Ramírez, Claudia. Universidad de Guanajuato. División Ciencias de la Salud e Ingenierías. Departamento de Enfermería y Obstetricia; México.Fil: Padilla-Raygoza, Nicolás. Universidad de Guanajuato. División Ciencias de la Salud e Ingenierías. Departamento de Enfermería y Obstetricia; México.Fil: Sosa-Estani, Sergio. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Centro Nacional de Diagnóstico e Investigación de Endemo-Epidemias; Argentina.Fil: Caamal-Kantun, Alejandra. Tulane University. School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine; Estados Unidos.Fil: Buekens, Pierre. Tulane University. School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine; Estados Unidos.Fil: Dumonteil, Eric. Tulane University. School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine; Estados Unidos.We sought to determine the serological test that could be used for Trypanosoma cruzi seroprevalence studies in Mexico, where lineage I predominates. In a previous study among pregnant women and their newborns in the states of Yucatan and Guanajuato, we reported a 0.8-0.9% of prevalence for T. cruzi -specific antibodies by Stat-Pak and Wiener ELISA. We have expanded this study here by performing an additional non-commercial ELISA and confirming the seropositives with Western blot, using whole antigens of a local parasite strain. We found a seroprevalence of 0.6% (3/500) in Merida and 0.4% in Guanajuato (2/488). The 5 seropositive umbilical cord samples reacted to both non-commercial ELISA and Western blot tests, and only 1 of the maternal samples was not reactive to non-commercial ELISA. A follow-up of the newborns at 10 mo was performed in Yucatan to determine the presence of T. cruzi antibodies in children as evidence of congenital infection. None of the children was seropositive. One newborn from an infected mother died at 2 wk of age of cardiac arrest, but T. cruzi infection was not confirmed. The T. cruzi seroprevalence data obtained with both commercial tests (Stat-Pak and ELISA Wiener) are similar to those from non-commercial tests using a local Mexican strain of T. cruzi

FORMACIÓN CIENTÍFICA STEM, EXPERIENCIAS DE APRENDIZAJE A PARTIR DE CLUBES DE CIENCIAS

The teaching of logical thinking as an activity oriented to scientific education contributes to the training of critical citizens, both in formal and non-formal scenarios. Within science clubs, children are guided to a formal research process, including exposure and disclosure of results. This document describes the working methodology implemented with children aged 4 to 12 years, actors, their roles and the products generated over five years of their implementation in urban and rural communities in Mexico. The experiences generated in two science clubs are integrated. With this support, a systematized working guide was developed for improved practice. As part of the evaluation, interviews have been conducted with the participating children, who have made it possible to know their perceptions of the work they do within them, with which a descriptive analysis of the experiences was carried out. In the reported work cycle, more than 50 children have been trained, who have performed outstandingly in national and international science competitions, which has enabled them to improve their investigative, argumentation and problem-solving skills. The work carried out has made it possible to contribute positively to the training of children, as well as the way in which they make problem-solving proposals, evaluate the quality of sources and make arguments during the development and presentation of the work.O ensino do pensamento lógico como atividade orientada para a educação científica contribui para a formação de cidadãos críticos, tanto em contextos formais como não formais. Nos clubes de ciências, as crianças são orientadas por um processo formal de pesquisa, que inclui a apresentação e divulgação dos resultados. Este documento descreve a metodologia de trabalho implementada com crianças de 4 a 12 anos, os atores, seus papéis e os produtos gerados ao longo dos 5 anos de sua implantação em comunidades urbanas e rurais no México. As experiências de trabalho em dois clubes de ciências são integradas. Com esse apoio, foi elaborado um guia de trabalho sistematizado para aprimorar a prática. Como parte da avaliação, foram realizadas entrevistas com as crianças participantes, que permitiram conhecer suas percepções sobre o trabalho que desenvolvem com elas, com o qual foi realizada uma análise descritiva das experiências. No ciclo de trabalho relatado, foram formadas cerca de 50 crianças, que tiveram um desempenho notável em concursos de ciências a nível nacional e internacional, o que lhes permitiu melhorar as suas competências investigativas, argumentativas e de resolução de problemas. O trabalho realizado tem permitido contribuir positivamente para as crenças das crianças, bem como a forma como estas apresentam propostas de soluções para os problemas, avaliam a qualidade das fontes e argumentam durante o desenvolvimento e apresentação dos trabalhos.La enseñanza del pensamiento lógico como actividad orientada a la educación científica, contribuye a la formación de ciudadanos críticos, tanto en escenarios formales como no formales. Dentro de los clubes de ciencia se guía a los niños a un proceso formal de investigación, que incluye la exposición y divulgación de resultados. El presente documento describe la metodología de trabajo implementada con niños de 4 hasta 12 años de edad, los actores, sus roles y los productos generados a lo largo de cinco años de su puesta en marcha en comunidades urbanas y rurales de México. Se integran las experiencias generadas en dos clubes de ciencias. Con este respaldo se elaboró una guía de trabajo sistematizada para una mejora de la práctica. Como parte de la evaluación, se han realizado entrevistas a los niños participantes, que han permitido conocer sus percepciones hacia el trabajo que realizan dentro de los mismos, con lo cual se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las experiencias. En el ciclo de trabajo reportado, se ha logrado formar a más de 50 niños, quienes han tenido un desempeño sobresaliente en concursos de ciencia a nivel nacional e internacional, que les ha permitido mejorar sus habilidades investigativas, de argumentación y de solución de problemas. El trabajo realizado ha permitido contribuir positivamente en la formación de los niños, así como la forma en la que realizan propuestas de solución a problemas, evalúan la calidad de las fuentes y realizan las argumentaciones durante el desarrollo y presentación de los trabajos

Do commercial serologic tests for Trypanosoma cruzi infection detect Mexican strains in women and newborns?

We sought to determine the serological test that could be used for Trypanosoma cruzi seroprevalence studies in Mexico, where lineage I predominates. In a previous study among pregnant women and their newborns in the states of Yucatan and Guanajuato, we reported a 0.8-0.9% of prevalence for T. cruzi -specific antibodies by Stat-Pak and Wiener ELISA. We have expanded this study here by performing an additional non-commercial ELISA and confirming the seropositives with Western blot, using whole antigens of a local parasite strain. We found a seroprevalence of 0.6% (3/500) in Merida and 0.4% in Guanajuato (2/488). The 5 seropositive umbilical cord samples reacted to both non-commercial ELISA and Western blot tests, and only 1 of the maternal samples was not reactive to non-commercial ELISA. A follow-up of the newborns at 10 mo was performed in Yucatan to determine the presence of T. cruzi antibodies in children as evidence of congenital infection. None of the children was seropositive. One newborn from an infected mother died at 2 wk of age of cardiac arrest, but T. cruzi infection was not confirmed. The T. cruzi seroprevalence data obtained with both commercial tests (Stat-Pak and ELISA Wiener) are similar to those from non-commercial tests using a local Mexican strain of T. cruzi

Distribución espacial de los fenómenos neblinas y nieblas en Cuba

Dada la ausencia de un estudio anterior generalizado para toda Cuba de la distribución espacial del fenómeno niebla, el presente trabajo propone una caracterización de la variación espacial de las nieblas en el territorio mediante la realización de mapas de porcentaje de ocurrencia de observaciones y número de días con neblinas y nieblas. El método de interpolación utilizado se basa en el análisis objetivo de Cressman, donde las distancias entre los puntos de rejilla y las estaciones son modifi cadas de acuerdo con los valores de campos base como el relieve del terreno, la distancia a la costa y la humedad utilizable de acuerdo con la vegetación y el uso de suelo, lo que permitió defi nir la representatividad de cada estación en distintas direcciones y el procedimiento de minimización utilizado es el de “Descenso más rápido”. El método de interpolación empleado demostró que puede resolver particularidades de la distribución espacial de las variables, que escapan a los métodos de uso más general. Tanto nieblas como neblinas tienen distribuciones parecidas con bajos valores de ocurrencia cerca de las costas y altos, fundamentalmente en regiones montañosas como la Gran Piedra o el Grupo Sagua-Baracoa, en los alrededores de cuerpos de agua importantes como el Valle del Cauto o valles con características particulares como Bainoa