Autoconfianza de los estudiantes de Medicina en su interpretación correcta de un electrocardiograma

Myocardial infarction is a highly prevalent condition. Its early recognition could have a high impact on prognosis. A quick and accurate interpretation of the electrocardiogram (EKG) is crucial to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic processes. Nevertheless, medical literature shows lack of competencies for autonomous and reliable EKG interpretation on both medical students and general practitioners, in many countries. The aim of the present study is to assess the level of self-confidence that medical students from the University of Chile have in their own skills to interpreter EKG rapidly and correctly. With that purpose, an online survey was designed and applied to all medical students from third to 7 th year (final). resUlts: From a total of 1.000 surveys sent, only 206 were completely answered and returned. 77.2 % of these students show very limited self-confidence in their own skills and competences to reliably interpret an EKG without anybody else’s help. On the other hand, only 20.9% of them declare to have a high level of self-confidence in this area. We did not find statistically significant differences associated with: gender, educational level, previous academic performance, or campus. conclUsions: Most of our medical students have a low self-confidence level regarding their own capabilities for correctly and quickly “read” an EKG. These findings suggest the need for redesigning the educational strategies currently being used for this purpose, in the undergraduate Cardiology Program, incorporating new teaching methodologies to achieve the desirable competences needed for correct EKGs’ reading

Audio-lingual vs. Communicative Method to develop speaking skills in high school learners

Tesis (Profesor de Inglés para la Enseñanza Básica y Media y al grado académico de Licenciado en Educación)This research which is called “Audio-lingual vs. Communicative Method to develop speaking skills in high school learners” aims to establish whether the communicative approach is effective to develop speaking skills in high school learners; and to determine whether the audio-lingual method works better than the communicative approach in Chilean schools. This research project aims to contribute not only with theory and practice of the two methods previously mentioned, but it also wants to demystify the beliefs teachers hold towards the audio-lingual method. The goal is to improve the speaking skills through ALM in high school learners at a school called Inmaculada Concepcion Talcahuano located in Talcahuano, Chile. This has been done by analyzing two groups in a period of one month, the control and experimental group in which the control one was taught normally under the CLT method whilst the experimental group was taught under the ALM.Esta investigación, la cual lleva por nombre “Audio-lingual vs. Communicative method to develop speaking skills in high school learners”, tiene como objetivo establecer si el método comunicativo es efectivo para desarrollar la habilidad de producción oral en el idioma inglés en alumnos de enseñanza media; y, determinar si el método audio-lingual funciona mejor que el método comunicativo en colegios Chilenos. Este proyecto investigativo pretende contribuir no sólo con teoría y práctica en relación a los dos métodos mencionados anteriormente, sino que también quiere desmitificar las creencias que los profesores mantienen respecto al método audio-lingual. El objetivo es perfeccionar la habilidad de producción oral en lengua inglesa a través del método audio-lingual en estudiantes de enseñanza media pertenecientes al Colegio Inmaculada Concepción Talcahuano, ubicado en la ciudad de Talcahuano, Chile. Esto ha sido realizado mediante el análisis de dos grupos de alumnos durante el periodo consistente en un mes; esto es un grupo de control que será enseñado de acuerdo a lo que establece el ministerio respecto al método comunicativo; mientras que el grupo experimental estudiará los mismos contenidos establecidos de acuerdo a su nivel, pero utilizando el método audio-lingual

Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in Free-Ranging Introduced Monk Parakeets from Santiago, Chile

Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) are medium-sized parrots that due to international pet trade currently exist as invasive species in 19 countries globally. Such is the case of Chile, where Monk Parakeets have thrived in the city of Santiago. Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. are worldwide distributed gastrointestinal parasites whose potential hosts include birds and humans. The present study sought to determine the presence of these pathogens in Monk Parakeets from Santiago. During the austral summers of 2017 and 2018, 207 Monk Parakeet nestlings were captured, and fecal samples were studied via microscopical analyses. Environmental data related to the trees in which the nestlings were captured were analyzed to establish the existence of infection clusters. Associations between spatial clusters, environmental variables, and the presence or absence of these pathogens were explored. In total, 33 samples were positive to the presence of one or both protozoa. Of the 33, Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were detected in 10 nestlings (30%) while Giardia spp. cysts were detected in 25 (76%). Two nestlings presented poly-parasitism (6%). Statistical analyses established pruned trees as a potential protective factor against infection with these parasites. The present study corresponds to the second report of Cryptosporidium spp. in Monk Parakeets in Chile and the first worldwide report of Giardia spp. in these birds, emphasizing Monk Parakeet’s potential role as a reservoir and pathogen disseminator, especially in urban environments

Assessment of Three Antimicrobial Residue Concentrations in Broiler Chicken Droppings as a Potential Risk Factor for Public Health and Environment

Tetracyclines, sulfonamides and amphenicols are broad spectrum antimicrobial drugs that are widely used in poultry farming. However, a high proportion of these drugs can be excreted at high concentrations in droppings, even after the end of a therapy course. This work intended to assess and compare concentrations of florfenicol (FF), florfenicol amine (FFa), chlortetracycline (CTC), 4-epi-chlortetracycline (4-epi-CTC), and sulfachloropyridazine (SCP) in broiler chicken droppings. To this end, 70 chickens were housed under controlled environmental conditions, and assigned to experimental groups that were treated with therapeutic doses of either 10% FF, 20% CTC, or 10% SCP. Consequently, we implemented and designed an in-house validation for three analytical methodologies, which allowed us to quantify the concentrations of these three antimicrobial drugs using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Our results showed that FF and FFa concentrations were detected in chicken droppings up to day 10 after ceasing treatment, while CTC and 4-epi-CTC were detected up to day 25. As for SCP residues, these were detected up to day 21. Noticeably, CTC showed the longest excretion period, as well as the highest concentrations detected after the end of its administration using therapeutic doses

Reducing Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis contamination in food: lytic bacteriophages in a homemade mayonnaise-like matrix

Background:Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) is one of the major causes of food-borne disease worldwide, mainly associated with the consumption of poultry products, such as eggs. Several control methods have been implemented in the egg production process, but they have not effectively reduced the outbreaks. Therefore, the use of bacteriophages for the biocontrol of food-borne pathogens is gaining increasing acceptance. Objective: To evaluate a bacteriophage cocktail's effectiveness in reducing SE counts in an experimentally contaminated mayonnaise-like matrix. Methods: Homemade mayonnaise was contaminated with SE (103 CFU/ml) with equal volume to a matrix (1:1) treated with a bacteriophage cocktail (five phages, MOI 105), and stored at 21 °C for 24 and 72 h. Bacterial counts were performed to evaluate the bio-controlling activity of the cocktail and compared with a contaminated but not treated group. Results: Significant reductions (up to 3.75 log10 CFU/ml) were observed in the bacteriophage-treated groups (p<0.0001). Conclusions: These results demonstrate the effectiveness of bacteriophages as biocontrol agents for Salmonella Enteritidis in a raw-egg-derivative foodstuff. Further studies are needed to prove the reduction in an undiluted homemade mayonnaise.Antecedentes:Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) é uma das principais causas de doenças transmitidas por alimentos em todo o mundo, principalmente associada ao consumo de produtos derivados de aves, como ovos. Diferentes métodos de controle foram implementados no processo de produção de ovos, mas não foram capazes de reduzir efetivamente os surtos nas pessoas. Por esse motivo, o uso de bacteriófagos para o controle biológico de patógenos de origem alimentar está ganhando crescente aceitação. Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia de um coquetel de bacteriófagos na redução da contagem de SE em uma matriz experimentalmente semelhante a maionese contaminada. Método: A maionese caseira foi contaminada com SE (103 UFC/ml) no mesmo volume da matriz (1:1), tratada com uma mistura de bacteriófagos (cinco fagos, MOI 105) e armazenada a 21 °C por 24 e 72 h. As contagens bacterianas foram realizadas para avaliar a atividade de biocontrole da mistura e comparadas com um grupo contaminado, mas não tratado. Resultados: Reduções significativas (até 3,75 log10 UFC/ml) foram observadas nos grupos tratados com bacteriófagos (p<0,0001). Conclusões: Esses resultados demonstram a eficácia do uso de bacteriófagos como agentes de biocontrole de Salmonella Enteritidis em alimentos crus derivados de ovos, mas são necessários mais estudos para verificar a redução da maionese caseira não diluída.Antecedentes: La Salmonella enterica, serovar Enteritidis (SE), es una de las principales causas de enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos en todo el mundo, asociadas principalmente al consumo de productos avícolas tales como los huevos. Diferentes métodos de control se han ensayado en el proceso de producción de huevos, pero no han sido capaces de reducir eficazmente los brotes de salmonelosis en las personas. Por esta razón, el uso de bacteriófagos para el control biológico de patógenos transmitidos por los alimentos está ganando cada vez más aceptación. Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia de un cóctel de bacteriófagos para reducir los recuentos de SE en una matriz similar a la de mayonesa contaminada experimentalmente. Método: La mayonesa casera fue contaminada con SE (103 UFC/ml) en igual volumen que la matriz (1:1), tratada con una mezcla de bacteriófagos (cinco fagos, MOI 105), y almacenada a 21 °C por 24 y 72 h. Se realizaron recuentos bacterianos para evaluar la actividad biocontroladora de la mezcla y compararlos con un grupo contaminado, pero no tratado. Resultados: Se observaron reducciones significativas (hasta 3,75 log10 CFU/ml) en los grupos tratados con bacteriófagos (p<0,0001). Conclusiones: Estos resultados demuestran la efectividad del uso de bacteriófagos como agentes de biocontrol de Salmonella Enteritidis en un alimento crudo derivado del huevo. Sin embargo, se necesita realizar más estudios para comprobar la reducción en mayonesa casera no diluida

Interactions between Invasive Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) and Other Bird Species during Nesting Seasons in Santiago, Chile

The monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is considered to be one of the most invasive bird species because its unique ability among parrots to build their own communal nests. Currently, they are considered an invasive species in 19 countries and a pest—even in their native distribution—because of economic losses derived from their impacts. During the reproductive seasons of 2017 and 2018, we registered interactions between invasive monk parakeets and resident bird species in Santiago, Chile. We observed agonistic and affiliative interactions, and further, we described monk parakeets’ nest occupancy by nine bird species, two invasive and seven native. For this reason, we consider that the monk parakeet is an allogenic ecosystem engineer with the potential to shape distribution and richness of sympatric species in urban environments. Our results contribute to an assessment of the implications of the monk parakeet’s ecological invasion to other synanthropic species, and raise concern of other potential impacts, such as pathogen transmission derived from these interactions