"Proyecto de aula ""de dónde vengo yo"" : estrategia metodológica para el fortalecimiento de la competencia escritora en los grados 2°, 3°y 5° de primaria de las Instituciones Educativas Cristo Rey de Tutunendo y Antonio María Claret del Municipio de Quibdó"

Este trabajo de investigación, aborda una problemática que preocupa a las instituciones educativas, especialmente a los docentes en cuanto a su práctica pedagógica, el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje; el rendimiento académico, el desarrollo de las competencias lectoescriturales de los estudiantes de grados 2°, 3° y 5° de las Instituciones Educativas Cristo Rey de Tutunendo y Antonio María Claret del Municipio de Quibdó. Lo más notable son las debilidades en la escritura de los estudiantes, tal y como se evidencia en los últimos Índices Sintéticos de Calidad Educativa ISCE de las I.E. El equipo investigador a partir de su experiencia docente y del diagnóstico hecho, mediante pruebas pretest - postest y los resultados obtenidos en el aula de clase, aborda la problemática de la escritura para proponer alternativas de solución con el uso y aplicación de proyectos de aula como estrategia y así mejorar dicha escritura. Para tal efecto, la investigación se fundamentó en diversos referentes teóricos de autores como: Alvarado, M. (2009), Buitrago, Torres y Hernández (2009), Hernández, F., & Baptista, P. (2006), Ministerio de educación Nacional - Ley 115; y otras bases teóricas para trabajar las categorías escriturales: pragmáticas, semánticas y sintácticas.This research work addresses a problem that concerns educational institutions, especially teachers in terms of their pedagogical practice, the teaching-learning process; the academic performance, the development of the competences of the students of 2° grades. 3° and 5° of the Educational Institutions: Cristo Rey de Tutunendo and Antonio Maria Claret of the Municipality of Quibdó. Most notable are the weaknesses in student writing. As evidenced by the latest ISCE Educational Quality Synthetic Indexes of the I.E. The research team, based on their teaching experience and the diagnosis made, through pretest-posttest tests and the results obtained in the classroom, addresses the problem of writing to propose alternative solutions with the use and application of classroom projects such as strategies and thus improve said writing. For this purpose, the research was based on various theoretical references from authors such as: Alvarado, M. (2009), Buitrago, Torres and Hernández (2009), Hernández, F., & Baptista, P. (2006), Ministry of Education National - Law 115; and other theoretical bases to work the scriptural categories: pragmatic, semantic and syntactic

Toxicology in the Fast Lane: Application of High-Throughput Bioassays to Detect Modulation of Key Enzymes and Receptors

BackgroundLegislation at state, federal, and international levels is requiring rapid evaluation of the toxicity of numerous chemicals. Whole-animal toxicologic studies cannot yield the necessary throughput in a cost-effective fashion, leading to a critical need for a faster and more cost-effective toxicologic evaluation of xenobiotics.ObjectivesWe tested whether mechanistically based screening assays can rapidly provide information on the potential for compounds to affect key enzymes and receptor targets, thus identifying those compounds requiring further in-depth analysis.MethodsA library of 176 synthetic chemicals was prepared and examined in a high-throughput screening (HTS) manner using nine enzyme-based and five receptor-based bioassays.ResultsAll the assays have high Z' values, indicating good discrimination among compounds in a reliable fashion, and thus are suitable for HTS assays. On average, three positive hits were obtained per assay. Although we identified compounds that were previously shown to inhibit a particular enzyme class or receptor, we surprisingly discovered that triclosan, a microbiocide present in personal care products, inhibits carboxylesterases and that dichlone, a fungicide, strongly inhibits the ryanodine receptors.ConclusionsConsidering the need to rapidly screen tens of thousands of anthropogenic compounds, our study shows the feasibility of using combined HTS assays as a novel approach toward obtaining toxicologic data on numerous biological end points. The HTS assay approach is very useful to quickly identify potentially hazardous compounds and to prioritize them for further in-depth studies

In vitro evaluation of the antitumor effect of bismuth lipophilic nanoparticles (BisBAL NPs) on breast cancer cells

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the antitumor activity of lipophilic bismuth nanoparticles (BisBAL NPs) on breast cancer cells. Materials and methods: The effect of varying concentrations of BisBAL NPs was evaluated on human MCF-7 breast cancer cells and on MCF-10A fibrocystic mammary epitheliocytes as noncancer control cells. Cell viability was evaluated with the MTT assay, plasma membrane integrity was analyzed with the calcein AM assay, genotoxicity with the comet assay, and apoptosis with the Annexin V/7-AAD assay. Results: BisBAL NPs were spherical in shape (average diameter, 28 nm) and agglomerated into dense electronic clusters. BisBAL NP induced a dose-dependent growth inhibition. Most importantly, growth inhibition was higher for MCF-7 cells than for MCF-10A cells. At 1 µM BisBAL NP, MCF-7 growth inhibition was 51%, while it was 11% for MCF-10A; at 25 µM BisBAL NP, the growth inhibition was 81% for MCF-7 and 24% for MCF-10A. With respect to mechanisms of action, a 24-hour exposure of 10 and 100 µM BisBAL NP caused loss of cell membrane integrity and fragmentation of tumor cell DNA. BisBAL NPs at 10 µM were genotoxic to and caused apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Conclusion: BisBAL NP-induced growth inhibition is dose dependent, and breast cancer cells are more vulnerable than noncancer breast cells. The mechanism of action of BisBAL NPs may include loss of plasma membrane integrity and a genotoxic effect on the genomic DNA of breast cancer cells. Keywords: antitumor activity, bismuth nanoparticles, breast cancer, chemotherapy, cytotoxicit

Hypocholesterolemia in patients with an amebic liver abscess

Background/Aims: Many parasites induce changes in the lipid profiles of the host. Cholesterol increases the virulence of Entamoeba histolytica in animal models and in vitro culture. This study aimed to determine, in patients with an amebic liver abscess, the correlation between cholesterol and other features, such as the size and number of abscesses, standard hematological and serum chemistry profiles, liver tests, and duration of hospital stay. Methods: A total of 108 patients with an amebic liver abscess and 140 clinically healthy volunteers were investigated. Cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in the sera. The data from medical observations and laboratory tests were obtained from the clinical records. Results: A total of 93% of patients with an amebic liver abscess showed hypocholesterolemia not related to any of the studied parameters. Liver function tests correlated with the size of the abscess. The most severe cases of amebic liver disease or death were found in patients whose cholesterol levels continued to decrease despite receiving antiamebic treatment and hospital care. Conclusions: Our results show that the hypocholesterolemia observed in patients with an amebic liver abscess is not related to any of the clinical and laboratory features analyzed. This is the first study relating hypocholesterolemia to severity of hepatic amebiasis

Relationship of metabolic syndrome and its components with -844 G/A and HindIII C/G PAI-1 gene polymorphisms in Mexican children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several association studies have shown that -844 G/A and <it>HindIII </it>C/G <it>PAI-1 </it>polymorphisms are related with increase of PAI-1 levels, obesity, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, hypertension and dyslipidemia, which are components of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to analyze the allele and genotype frequencies of these polymorphisms in <it>PAI-1 </it>gene and its association with metabolic syndrome and its components in a sample of Mexican mestizo children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study included 100 children with an age range between 6-11 years divided in two groups: a) 48 children diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and b) 52 children metabolically healthy without any clinical and biochemical alteration. Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of three or more of the following criteria: fasting glucose levels ≥ 100 mg/dL, triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL, HDL-cholesterol < 40 mg/dL, obesity BMI ≥ 95^thpercentile, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 95^thpercentile and insulin resistance HOMA-IR ≥ 2.4. The -844 G/A and <it>HindIII </it>C/G <it>PAI-1 </it>polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR-RFLP.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For the -844 G/A polymorphism, the G/A genotype (OR = 2.79; 95% CI, 1.11-7.08; <it>p </it>= 0.015) and the A allele (OR = 2.2; 95% CI, 1.10-4.43; <it>p </it>= 0.015) were associated with metabolic syndrome. The -844 G/A and A/A genotypes were associated with increase in plasma triglycerides levels (OR = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.16 to 6.04; <it>p </it>= 0.02), decrease in plasma HDL-cholesterol levels (OR = 2.4; 95% CI, 1.06 to 5.42; <it>p </it>= 0.03) and obesity (OR = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.17-5.92; <it>p </it>= 0.01). The C/G and G/G genotypes of the <it>HindIII </it>C/G polymorphism contributed to a significant increase in plasma total cholesterol levels (179 vs. 165 mg/dL; <it>p </it>= 0.02) in comparison with C/C genotype.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The -844 G/A <it>PAI-1 </it>polymorphism is related with the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, obesity and atherogenic dyslipidemia, and the <it>HindIII </it>C/G <it>PAI-1 </it>polymorphism was associated with the increase of total cholesterol levels in Mexican children.</p

The Na+/Ca2+ Exchange Inhibitor 2-(2-(4-(4-Nitrobenzyloxy)phenyl)ethyl)isothiourea Methanesulfonate (KB-R7943) Also Blocks Ryanodine Receptors Type 1 (RyR1) and Type 2 (RyR2) Channels

Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) is a plasma membrane transporter that moves Ca2+ in or out of the cell, depending on membrane potential and transmembrane ion gradients. NCX is the main pathway for Ca2+ extrusion from excitable cells. NCX inhibitors can ameliorate cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury and promote high-frequency fatigue of skeletal muscle, purportedly by inhibiting the Ca2+ inward mode of NCX. Here we tested two known NCX inhibitors, 2-(2-(4-(4-nitrobenzyloxy)phenyl)ethyl)-isothiourea methanesulfonate (KB-R7943) and the structurally related 2-[[4-[(4-Nitrophenyl)methoxy]phenyl]methyl]-4-thiazoli dinecarboxylic acid ethyl ester (SN-6), for their influence on electrically or caffeine-evoked Ca2+ transients in adult dissociated flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) skeletal muscle fibers and human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells that have stable expression of type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1). KB-R7943 (≤10 μM) reversibly attenuates electrically evoked Ca2+ transients in FDB and caffeine-induced Ca2+ release in HEK 293, whereas the structurally related NCX inhibitor SN-6 does not, suggesting that KB-R7943 directly inhibits RyR1. In support of this interpretation, KB-R7943 inhibits high-affinity binding of [3H]ryanodine to RyR1 (IC50 = 5.1 ± 0.9 μM) and the cardiac isoform RyR2 (IC50 = 13.4 ± 1.8 μM). KB-R7943 interfered with the gating of reconstituted RyR1 and RyR2 channels, reducing open probability (Po), shortening mean open time, and prolonging mean closed time. KB-R7943 was more effective at blocking RyR1 with cytoplasmic conditions favoring high Po compared with those favoring low Po. SN-6 has negligible activity toward altering [3H]ryanodine binding of RyR1 and RyR2. Our results identify that KB-R7943 is a reversible, activity-dependent blocker of the two most broadly expressed RyR channel isoforms and contributes to its pharmacological and therapeutic activities

Aspectos biológicos y uso de hábitat del calamar dedal, Lolliguncula panamensis, capturado en el golfo de California

Se analizaron aspectos biológicos, talla, peso e indicadores reproductivos, del calamar dedal. Se analizaron 2,354 individuos capturados en 7 cruceros de pesca exploratoria y en muestreos de 5 bahías en el golfo de California de 2014 a 2017. Los individuos se agruparon en 2 sistemas: frentes costeros (programas de crucero Calamar gigante, Camarón, Merluza y Pelágicos menores) y lagunas costeras (bahías de Agiabampo, Yavaros, Tóbari, Lobos y Las Guásimas). En los frentes costeros se capturaron 1,687 individuos (44.2% hembras, 25.7% machos y 30.1% indeterminados) y en las lagunas costeras, 667 individuos (59.7% hembras, 36.7% machos y 3.6%indeterminados), y las hembras fueron las de mayor abundancia en ambos ecosistemas. Las hembras dominaron en tallas >60 mm de longitud de manto (LM) y los machos, en tallas >60 mm de longitud de manto (LM) y los machos, en tallas <60mm de LM. El tipo de crecimiento fue alométrico negativo para ambos sexos (b = 2.59). La talla promedio de primera madurez (LM50) indicó que las hembras maduran a longitudes mayores que los machos. La frecuencia de los estadios de desarrollo gonádico por sistema mostró que las fases inmaduras en ambos sexos fueron las más frecuentes. La proporción sexual fue 1.7H:1.0M. De acuerdo con nuestros resultados, podemos concluir que el calamar dedal habita ambos sistemas, los frentes costeros y las lagunas costeras, donde los machos maduros parchan a las hembras inmaduras en las lagunas costeras y estas migran a los frentes costeros para madurar y desovar

Microencapsulation of <em>Bacillus</em> Strains for Improving Wheat (<em>Triticum turgidum Subsp. durum</em>) Growth and Development

Bio-formulation technologies have a limited impact on agricultural productivity in developing countries, especially those based on plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Thus, calcium alginate microbeads were synthesized and used for the protection and delivery of three beneficial Bacillus strains for agricultural applications. The process of encapsulation had a high yield per gram for all bacteria and the microbeads protected the Bacillus strains, allowing their survival, after 12 months of storage at room temperature. Microbead analysis was carried out by observing the rate of swelling and biodegradation of the beads and the released-establishment of bacteria in the soil. These results showed that there is an increase of around 75% in bead swelling on average, which allows for larger pores, and the effective release and subsequent establishment of the bacteria in the soil. Biodegradation of microbeads in the soil was gradual: in the first week, they increased their weight (75%), which consistently results in the swelling ratio. The co-inoculation of the encapsulated strain TRQ8 with the other two encapsulated strains showed plant growth promotion. TRQ8 + TRQ65 and TRQ8 + TE3T bacteria showed increases in different biometric parameters of wheat plants, such as stem height, root length, dry weight, and chlorophyll content. Thus, here we demonstrated that the application of alginate microbeads containing the studied strains showed a positive effect on wheat plants