Identificación de dificultades de lectura en estudiantes de primero y tercero de educación primaria

This work investigates the learning difficulties in reading in schoolchildren who are in the First and the Third grades of Primary Education. The main purpose was to detect reading learning difficulties in Primary Education in order to that the educational center performs a preventive intervention. The sample consisted of 109 schoolchildren aged between 6 and 10 years. For that, an empirical study was carried out in which the following tests were applied: a Global Reading Level Test (TECLE), a word reading test (PIPE), a spelling test (ORT) and two tests for evaluation of the metaphonological representations (SIL and FON). The results show that it is possible to detect reading difficulties early. From this detection, schools can perform an early intervention so that such difficulties are mitigated or remedied.Este trabajo investiga las dificultades del aprendizaje en la lectura en menores que cursan Primero y Tercero de Educación Primaria. El propósito principal fue detectar dificultades de aprendizaje de lectura en Primaria con la finalidad de que el centro educativo realice una intervención preventiva. La muestra estuvo conformada por 109 estudiantes, con edades comprendidas entre los 6 y 10 años. Para ello, se realizó un estudio empírico en el que se aplicaron las pruebas siguientes: Prueba de Nivel de Lectura Global (TECLE), una prueba de lectura de palabras (PIPE), una prueba de ortografía (ORT) y dos pruebas para la evaluación de las representaciones metafonológicas (SIL y FON). Los resultados muestran que es posible detectar precozmente dificultades de lectura. A partir de dicha detección, los centros escolares pueden llevar a cabo una intervención temprana para que tales dificultades sean mitigadas o subsanadas

Mamá, quiero ser “tronista”. El poder de la programación televisiva en adolescentes

The media have gained great importance as a socializing agent, building up and transmitting identities through images and speeches, in such a way that they influence, immediately and daily, the behaviors and attitudes of the spectators. One of those media, so deeply rooted in our daily habits that we can hardly detach from both its consumption and the power that it exerts on us, is television (conventional or through Internet). The competition between the television networks and the terrible fight for the audience have led to a change in the programming, in such a way that, at present, a significant percentage of the guide is constituted by the so-called trash TV programs, among which are those exhibiting prejudices and gender stereotypes. This paper aims for examine the television products consumed by adolescents and the impact and influence that the so called “reality shows” have. To do this, a homemade questionnaire of 36 items (with open, closed and Likert-type questions) was used on a sample of 237 subjects, aged between 14 and 23 years old. After data analyzing, grouping, contrasting and interpreting, it was found that television consumption among the subjects of the sample was massive and daily (99.4%), as well as the related comments on the social networks. Similarly, 73% of the subjects claimed to be a follower of at least one reality show, most of them (87.3%) found important advantages to the fact of going out on TV, 35% would like to be people related to fame and a surprising 27% would like to participate in a reality show. The results show the necessity of an education for the television products consumption that put the emphasis on the reflective and critical role of the spectator.Los medios de comunicación han cobrado gran importancia como agente socializador, forjando y transmitiendo identidades a través de imágenes y discursos, de tal modo que influyen, de manera inmediata y cotidiana, en las conductas y actitudes de los espectadores. Y uno de esos medios, tan profundamente arraigado en nuestras costumbres cotidianas que difícilmente podemos desprendernos de su consumo y del poder que ejerce sobre nosotros, es la televisión (convencional o visionada a través de internet). La competencia de las cadenas televisivas y la feroz lucha por la audiencia han llevado a un cambio en la programación, de tal manera que, en la actualidad, un porcentaje importante de la parrilla lo constituyen los denominados programas basura, entre los que no son ajenos aquéllos que exhiben prejuicios y estereotipos de género. Este trabajo pretende examinar los productos televisivos consumidos por los adolescentes y el impacto e influencia que tienen en ellos los denominados “reality shows”. Para ello se utilizó un cuestionario de elaboración propia de 36 ítems (con preguntas abiertas, cerradas y tipo Likert), que fue aplicado a una muestra de 237 sujetos de entre 14 y 23 años. Tras analizar, agrupar, contrastar e interpretar los datos, constatamos que el consumo de televisión entre los sujetos de la muestra es masivo y cotidiano (99,4%), así como los comentarios al respecto en las redes sociales. De igual manera, un 73% de los sujetos manifiesta ser seguidor de, al menos, un reality show, una mayoría (87,3%) encuentra importantes ventajas al hecho de salir en televisión, a un 35% les gustaría ser personas relacionadas con la fama y a un sorprendente 27% les gustaría participar en un reality show. Los resultados muestran la necesidad de una educación para el consumo de los productos televisivos que ponga el énfasis en el papel reflexivo y crítico del espectador

Esters of quinoxaline-7-carboxylate-1,4-di-N-oxide as Trichomonas vaginalis triosephosphate isomerase inhibitors

Trichomoniasis is a public health problem worldwide. Trichomoniasis treatment consists of the use of nitroimidazole derivatives; however, therapeutic ineffectiveness occurs in 5 to 20 % of the cases. Therefore, it is essential to propose new pharmacological agents against this disease. In this work, esters of quinoxaline-7-carboxylate-1,4-di-N-oxide (EQX-NO) were evaluated in in vitro assays as novel trichomonicidal agents. Additionally, an in vitro enzyme assay and molecular docking analysis against triosephosphate isomerase of Trichomonas vaginalis to confirm their mechanism of action were performed. Ethyl (compound 12) and n-propyl (compound 37) esters of quinoxaline-7-carboxylate-1,4-di-N-oxide derivatives showed trichomonicidal activity comparable to nitazoxanide, whereas five methyl (compounds 5, 15, 19, 20 and 22), four isopropyl (compounds 28, 29, 30 and 34), three ethyl (compound (4, 13 and 23) and one n-propyl (compound 35) ester derivatives displayed activity comparable to albendazole. Compounds 6 and 20 decreased 100 % of the enzyme activity of recombinant protein triosephosphate isomerase

Ligand-Based Virtual Screening and Molecular Docking of Benzimidazoles as Potential Inhibitors of Triosephosphate Isomerase Identified New Trypanocidal Agents

Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is a parasite that affects humans and other mammals. T. cruzi depends on glycolysis as a source of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) supply, and triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) plays a key role in this metabolic pathway. This enzyme is an attractive target for the design of new trypanocidal drugs. In this study, a ligand-based virtual screening (LBVS) from the ZINC15 database using benzimidazole as a scaffold was accomplished. Later, a molecular docking on the interface of T. cruzi TIM (TcTIM) was performed and the compounds were grouped by interaction profiles. Subsequently, a selection of compounds was made based on cost and availability for in vitro evaluation against blood trypomastigotes. Finally, the compounds were analyzed by molecular dynamics simulation, and physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties were determined using SwissADME software. A total of 1604 molecules were obtained as potential TcTIM inhibitors. BP2 and BP5 showed trypanocidal activity with half-maximal lytic concentration (LC50) values of 155.86 and 226.30 µM, respectively. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation analyzes showed a favorable docking score of BP5 compound on TcTIM. Additionally, BP5 showed a low docking score (−5.9 Kcal/mol) on human TIM compared to the control ligand (−7.2 Kcal/mol). Both compounds BP2 and BP5 showed good physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties as new anti-T. cruzi agents. View Full-Tex

Encapsulation and release characteristics of glibenclamide loaded calcium-alginate beads

The aims of this study were to formulate calcium-alginate beads containing glibenclamide, characterize the resulting microparticles, evaluate the release characteristics of this type of delivery system in an in vitro dissolution test, and compare it with two commercially available trademarks (Daonil® and Glibetab®). We obtained glibenclamide loaded calcium-alginate beads with a rough surface and a particle size between 150-200 µm. For the in vitro dissolution test Daonil® at 45 min showed a Q > 70%, whereas Glibetab® and glibenclamide calcium-alginate beads a Q < 70%; in spite of that glibenclamide calcium-alginate beads showed significant release properties

The effect of relative humidity on tensile strength and water vapor permeability in chitosan, fish gelatin and transglutaminase edible films

AbstractComposite films of chitosan, fish gelatin and microbial transglutaminase (MTgase) were developed. Films were produced by the casting method and dried at room temperature for 30 h, conditioned for 7 days at 30 °C at a relative humidity (RH) from 11 to 90%, and characterized. Chitosan:fish gelatin films in different proportions (100:0, 75:25, 50:50) with MTgase, were subjected to tensile properties and water vapor transmission (WVT) testing. The results showed that tensile strength decreased with an increase in RH and with an increase in gelatin content. Percent of elongation also increased with increasing RH and gelatin concentration. Water vapor transmission showed an increase proportional to an increase in RH with the presence of gelatin being unfavorable for reducing WVT. Results in this work allowed studying the effect of relative humidity on tensile and water vapor properties of chitosan and fish gelatin films

In Silico Analysis of Homologous Heterodimers of Cruzipain-Chagasin from Structural Models Built by Homology

The present study gives an overview of the binding energetics of the homologous heterodimers of cruzipain&minus;chagasin based on the binding energy (&Delta;Gb) prediction obtained with FoldX. This analysis involves a total of 70 homologous models of the cruzipain&minus;chagasin complex which were constructed by homology from the combinatory variation of nine papain-like cysteine peptidase structures and seven cysteine protease inhibitor structures (as chagasin-like and cystatin-like inhibitors). Only 32 systems have been evaluated experimentally, &Delta;Gbexperimental values previously reported. Therefore, the result of the multiple analysis in terms of the thermodynamic parameters, are shown as relative energy |&Delta;&Delta;G| = |&Delta;Gbfrom FoldX &minus; &Delta;Gbexperimental|. Nine models were identified that recorded |&Delta;&Delta;G| &lt; 1.3, five models to 2.8 &gt; |&Delta;&Delta;G| &gt; 1.3 and the other 18 models, values of |&Delta;&Delta;G| &gt; 2.8. The energetic analysis of the contribution of &Delta;H and &Delta;S to &Delta;Gb to the 14-molecular model presents a &Delta;Gb mostly &Delta;H-driven at neutral pH and at an ionic strength (I) of 0.15 M. The dependence of &Delta;Gb(I,pH) at 298 K to the cruzipain&minus;chagasin complex predicts a linear dependence of &Delta;Gb(I). The computational protocol allowed the identification and prediction of thermodynamics binding energy parameters for cruzipain&minus;chagasin-like heterodimers

Repositioning FDA Drugs as Potential Cruzain Inhibitors from Trypanosoma cruzi: Virtual Screening, In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which affects underdeveloped countries. The current drugs of choice are nifurtimox and benznidazole, but both have severe adverse effects and less effectivity in chronic infections; therefore, the need to discover new drugs is essential. A computer-guided drug repositioning method was applied to identify potential FDA drugs (approved and withdrawn) as cruzain (Cz) inhibitors and trypanocidal effects were confirmed by in vitro and in vivo studies. 3180 FDA drugs were virtually screened using a structure-based approach. From a first molecular docking analysis, a set of 33 compounds with the best binding energies were selected. Subsequent consensus affinity binding, ligand amino acid contact clustering analysis, and ranked position were used to choose four known pharmacological compounds to be tested in vitro. Mouse blood samples infected with trypomastigotes from INC-5 and NINOA strains were used to test the trypanocidal effect of four selected compounds. Among these drugs, one fibrate antilipemic (etofyllin clofibrate) and three β-lactam antibiotics (piperacillin, cefoperazone, and flucloxacillin) showed better trypanocidal effects (LC50 range 15.8–26.1 μg/mL) in comparison with benznidazole and nifurtimox (LC50 range 33.1–46.7 μg/mL). A short-term in vivo evaluation of these compounds showed a reduction of parasitemia in infected mice (range 90–60%) at 6 h, but this was low compared to benznidazole (50%). This work suggests that four known FDA drugs could be used to design and obtain new trypanocidal agents