La enseñanza de la Toxicología en Farmacia: los seminarios como herramienta para la evaluación continuada

Con la finalidad de adaptarnos al EEES, desarrollamos una herramienta que nos permitiera realizar un proceso de evaluación continua de la asignatura troncal de Toxicología. En el presente trabajo presentamos los resultados de este modelo en el que utilizamos los seminarios como elementos básicos de este proceso. Describimos cómo se estructuran y desarrollan estos seminarios, así como el modelo de evaluación de los mismos. Los seminarios fueron evaluados con una puntuación máxima del 30 % sobre la nota final de la signatura, y la participación en los mismos con un máximo del 10 %. Algunos de estos seminarios incorporaban evaluaciones realizadas antes del desarrollo de los mismos, que denominábamos «pre», y otras justo al final del desarrollo de los mismos, que denominábamos «post». Esta herramienta de evaluación continua se ha mostrado muy eficaz en lo que respecta al grado de participación y preparación de los alumnos. Además, ha supuesto un cambio significativo en el grado de implicación de los profesores, y una mejora de la comunicación alumno-profesor

Knowledge Integration Activities in the Pharmacy Degree. Application in the Toxicology Subject

Los autores agradecen el soporte a todos los miembros del Grupo de Innovación docente ORFILAObjetivos. Durante los últimos años, los profesores del Departamento de Farmacología, Toxicología y Química Terapéutica hemos puesto en marcha un conjunto de acciones docentes con el objetivo de promover en los alumnos del grado de Farmacia la mejora de capacidades de integración de los conocimientos de las materias impartidas, así como un modelo de evaluación continuada multidisciplinar y retroactivo que nos permita objetivar su consecución. Métodos. Para desarrollar estas acciones de integración y la posterior evaluación de las mismas, diversas asignaturas del Departamento se han coordinado y se han analizado los conocimientos necesarios para la comprensión de contenidos que se desarrollan en cursos posteriores. Dentro de la asignatura de Toxicología hemos desarrollado un conjunto de acciones que se han concretado fundamentalmente en el diseño, aplicación y, en algunos casos, evaluación de unas actividades de tipología diversa. Resultados. A fin de valorar el éxito de estas acciones, se han comparado los resultados obtenidos en un test de preguntas de integración a principio de curso con los resultados de otro test a final de curso. Los resultados obtenidos en los cuatro ítems comparados muestran una mejora significativa en una pregunta, una mejora relativa no significativa en otras dos y resultados similares en la última. Conclusiones. Podemos concluir que las acciones desarrolladas han conseguido parcialmente los objetivos propuestos. Consideramos que esta herramienta puede ser muy útil para promover una mayor coordinación entre los profesores, en el diseño de material didáctico conjunto y transversal y en modelos integrados de evaluación.Aim. During the last years the professors of the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry have initiated a set of teaching actions with the aim of promoting the improvement of knowledge integration capacities corresponding to the subjects taught to students of Pharmacy degree; as well as a multidisciplinary and retroactive continuous evaluation model allowing to objectify its achievement. Methods. In order to develop these integration actions and their subsequent evaluation, several subjects of the Department have been coordinated and the knowledge necessary for understanding the contents of following courses have been analyzed. Within the subject of Toxicology, we have developed a set of actions based on the design, application and, in some cases, evaluation of a variety of activities. Results. In order to assess the success of these actions, we have compared the results obtained in a test of integration questions at the beginning of the course with the results of another test at the end of the course. The results obtained in the four items compared show a significant improvement in one question, a maintenance of results in another, and a non-significant relative improvement in the other two. Conclusions. We can conclude that the actions developed have partially achieved the proposed objectives. We consider that this tool can be very useful to promote greater coordination among teachers in the design of joint and transversal teaching materials and in integrated evaluation models.Este trabajo se enmarca en un proyecto de innovación docente de la Universidad de Barcelona (2015PID-UB-031

Incorporación de pequeñas secuencias de cine comercial en la enseñanza de las drogodependencias. Ensayo piloto en la asignatura de Toxicología

El Grupo de Innovación Docente Orfila, en su propósito por mejorar la calidad de la docencia, está ensayando la utilización del cine con fines didácticos. El material desarrollado en este proyecto consiste en secuencias cortas de películas comerciales de 3 a 5 minutos de duración, que son utilizadas como elementos ilustrativos del proceso de adicción a las a drogas. Se seleccionan escenas de la filmografía y se adecúan al programa docente de la asignatura Toxicología. Se recoge la opinión de los profesores participantes, así como la de los alumnos, mediante una entrevista personal y una encuesta de opinión, respectivamente, de las que se deduce un alto grado de satisfacción

Metabolism of hexachlorobenzene in humans: association between serum levels and urinary metabolites in a highly exposed population.

Serum and urine from 100 subjects of a general population highly exposed to airborne hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were analyzed to obtain new insights into the metabolism of this ubiquitous compound. HCB was detected in all serum samples with concentrations ranging between 1.1 and 953 ng/ml. The major known metabolites of HCB were investigated in urine collected over 24 hr. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) was detected in all urines with values ranging between 0.58 and 13.9 micrograms excreted in 24 hr [mean +/- standard deviation (SD), 2.52 +/- 2.05; geometric mean, 2.05]. A sulfur derivative that, after hydrolysis, yielded pentachlorobenzenethiol (PCBT) could also be identified and quantified in all the urines with values ranging between 0.18 and 84.0 micrograms of PCBT excreted in 24 hr (mean +/- SD, 3.47 +/- 10.8; geometric mean, 1.39). The sulfur derivative assessed as PCBT appeared to be the main metabolite, with urinary concentrations surpassing those of PCP in the subjects with higher HCB accumulation (HCB in serum > 32 ng/ml). PCBT concentration in urine collected over 24 hr showed a very strong association with HCB concentration in serum; the association was stronger in males than in females. An increase of 1 ng/ml of HCB in serum led to an increase of 2.12 micrograms of PCBT excreted in urine collected over 24 hr in males (95% CI, 1.82-2.44) and to an increase of 0.67 microgram of PCBT in females (CI, 0.33-1.09). A weaker association was found between PCP in urine and HCB in serum, which was only statistically significant in males (an increase of 1 ng/ml of HCB in serum led to an increase of 0.63 microgram of PCP excreted in urine collected over 24 hr; (CI, 0.34-0.95). These results show that the formation of the cysteine conjugate is a quantitatively more important metabolic pathway in humans than the formation of PCP. Moreover, the association found suggests that PCBT is a good urinary marker of HCB internal dose and glutathione-mediated metabolism

Physiology and toxicology teachers’ coordination. A case study in the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona

El aprendizaje es un proceso continuo que no debería finalizar una vez aprobada una determinada asignatura. En cualquier estudio universitario hay muchas materias que, para su comprensión, requieren de conocimientos adquiridos previamente en otras. En los estudios de Farmacia del plan 2002, los profesores de toxicología habían constatado que los estudiantes de dicha asignatura no recordaban conceptos básicos cursados en asignaturas de semestres anteriores. La asignatura de toxicología necesita para su comprensión conocimientos de, entre otras materias, fisiología y fisiopatología. Por esta razón se planteó la necesidad de hacer una actuación conjunta entre los profesores de Fisiología y Toxicología. Los objetivos de este proyecto fueron: a) Identificación de los contenidos fisiológicos y fisiopatológicos que los alumnos deben conocer para el seguimiento de la asignatura de toxicología. b) Unificación terminológica. c) Realización de un conjunto de preguntas básicas sobre estos contenidos. d) Detección, a través de estas preguntas, de los temas o grupos de temas con porcentajes más altos de respuestas incorrectas. e) Detectar los temas de fisiología y fisiopatología en los que hay que hacer más hincapié para favorecer el seguimiento de toxicología. En esta comunicación se describe la experiencia y los resultados obtenidos.Learning is a continuous process that should be still performed once a particular subject has been passed. In the university, many subjects require prior knowledge of others subjects for better understanding. During the Pharmacy curriculum of 2002, toxicology teachers observed that students did not seem to remember the basic concepts presumably acquired in previous semesters. For example, for the toxicology subject, students should have basic knowledge of physiology and pathophysiology. For this reason, a joint action among physiology and toxicology teachers was considered. The objectives of this project were: a) Identifying the physiological and pathophysiological aspects that students should know to follow the toxicology course. b) Reaching agreement over the common terminology. c) Executing a set of basic questions about these physiological and pathophysiological aspects. d) Detecting through these questions, the topics with a highest percentage of incorrect answers. e) Identifying which physiology and pathophysiology topics should be emphasized to encourage students to follow the toxicology subject. This communication describes the experience and outcomes of this project

Incorporación de pequeñas secuencias de cine comercial en la enseñanza de las drogodependencias. Ensayo piloto en la asignatura de Toxicología

El Grup d'Innovació Docent Orfila, en el seu projecte per millorar la qualitat de la docència, està assajant la utilització del cinema amb finalitat didàctica. El material didàctic que hem desenvolupat en aquest projecte són petites seqüències de pel·lícules comercials de 3 a 5 minuts, per ser utilitzades com a elements il·lustratius del procés addictiu. Se seleccionen escenes de la filmografia i s'adeqüen als nostres programes docents. Es recull l'opinió dels professors participants, així com la dels alumnes, mitjançant una entrevista personal i una enquesta d'opinió, respectivament. De les entrevistes als professors i de les enquestes d'opinió dels alumnes, es dedueix un alt grau de satisfacció.The Orfila Teaching Innovation Group has initiated a series of actions to improve the quality of teaching with the introduction of didactic cinema.  The materials that we have developed in this project are small sequences of 3 to 5 minutes of commercial films, to be used as illustrative elements of the addictive process.  Scenes from the films were selected and adapted to our educational programs. The opinion of the participating teachers and the students was collected through a personal interview and an opinion poll, respectively. The results of teacher interviews and surveys of student opinion, indicate a high degree of satisfaction.El Grupo de Innovación Docente Orfila, en su proyecto para mejorar la calidad de la docencia, está ensayando la utilización del cine con finalidad didáctica. El material didáctico que hemos desarrollado en este proyecto son pequeñas secuencias de películas comerciales de 3 a 5 minutos, para ser utilizadas como elementos ilustrativos del proceso adictivo. Se seleccionan escenas de la filmografía y se adecuan a nuestros programas docentes. Se recoge la opinión de los profesores participantes, así como la de los alumnos, mediante una entrevista personal y una encuesta de opinión, respectivamente. De las entrevistas a los profesores y las encuestas de opinión de los alumnos, se deduce un alto grado de satisfacción

Transgenic Expression of Soluble Human CD5 Enhances Experimentally-Induced Autoimmune and Anti-Tumoral Immune Responses

CD5 is a lymphoid-specific transmembrane glycoprotein constitutively expressed on thymocytes and mature T and B1a lymphocytes. Current data support the view that CD5 is a negative regulator of antigen-specific receptor-mediated signaling in these cells, and that this would likely be achieved through interaction with CD5 ligand/s (CD5L) of still undefined nature expressed on immune or accessory cells. To determine the functional consequence of loss of CD5/CD5L interaction in vivo, a new transgenic mouse line was generated (shCD5EμTg), expressing a circulating soluble form of human CD5 (shCD5) as a decoy to impair membrane-bound CD5 function. These shCD5EμTg mice showed an enhanced response to autologous antigens, as deduced from the presentation of more severe forms of experimentally inducible autoimmune disease (collagen-induced arthritis, CIA; and experimental autoimmune encephalitis, EAE), as well as an increased anti-tumoral response in non-orthotopic cancer models (B16 melanoma). This enhancement of the immune response was in agreement with the finding of significantly reduced proportions of spleen and lymph node Treg cells (CD4+CD25+FoxP3+), and of peritoneal IL-10-producing and CD5+ B cells, as well as an increased proportion of spleen NKT cells in shCD5EμTg mice. Similar changes in lymphocyte subpopulations were observed in wild-type mice following repeated administration of exogenous recombinant shCD5 protein. These data reveal the relevant role played by CD5/CD5L interactions on the homeostasis of some functionally relevant lymphocyte subpopulations and the modulation of immune responses to autologous antigens

Trends and outcome of neoadjuvant treatment for rectal cancer: A retrospective analysis and critical assessment of a 10-year prospective national registry on behalf of the Spanish Rectal Cancer Project

Introduction: Preoperative treatment and adequate surgery increase local control in rectal cancer. However, modalities and indications for neoadjuvant treatment may be controversial. Aim of this study was to assess the trends of preoperative treatment and outcomes in patients with rectal cancer included in the Rectal Cancer Registry of the Spanish Associations of Surgeons. Method: This is a STROBE-compliant retrospective analysis of a prospective database. All patients operated on with curative intention included in the Rectal Cancer Registry were included. Analyses were performed to compare the use of neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment in three timeframes: I)2006–2009; II)2010–2013; III)2014–2017. Survival analyses were run for 3-year survival in timeframes I-II. Results: Out of 14, 391 patients, 8871 (61.6%) received neoadjuvant treatment. Long-course chemo/radiotherapy was the most used approach (79.9%), followed by short-course radiotherapy ± chemotherapy (7.6%). The use of neoadjuvant treatment for cancer of the upper third (15-11 cm) increased over time (31.5%vs 34.5%vs 38.6%, p = 0.0018). The complete regression rate slightly increased over time (15.6% vs 16% vs 18.5%; p = 0.0093); the proportion of patients with involved circumferential resection margins (CRM) went down from 8.2% to 7.3%and 5.5% (p = 0.0004). Neoadjuvant treatment significantly decreased positive CRM in lower third tumors (OR 0.71, 0.59–0.87, Cochrane-Mantel-Haenszel P = 0.0008). Most ypN0 patients also received adjuvant therapy. In MR-defined stage III patients, preoperative treatment was associated with significantly longer local-recurrence-free survival (p < 0.0001), and cancer-specific survival (p < 0.0001). The survival benefit was smaller in upper third cancers. Conclusion: There was an increasing trend and a potential overuse of neoadjuvant treatment in cancer of the upper rectum. Most ypN0 patients received postoperative treatment. Involvement of CRM in lower third tumors was reduced after neoadjuvant treatment. Stage III and MRcN + benefited the most

Utjecaj toksičnosti metala na reprodukcijsku funkciju u muškaraca

A combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors contributes to adverse effects on the reproductive health in men. Metals are pervasive in food, water, air, tobacco smoke, and alcoholic beverages. Experimental studies suggest that many metals have adverse effects on the male reproductive function. However, information about reproductive effects of human exposure to metals is scarce and/or inconsistent. This review summarises the information from epidemiological studies of the effects of metal exposure on reproductive function in men. Factors capable of affecting these relationships were identifi ed and discussed. A particular attention is given to the studies considering influence of concomitant exposure to various metals. These studies have generally confirmed that even moderate- to low-level exposure to lead affects certain reproductive parameters, and that exposure to cadmium affects the prostate function and serum testosterone levels. Adverse effects of mercury, manganese, chromium and arsenic on semen quality and altered serum hormone are less well documented. There is no clear evidence that boron exposure may impair reproductive health in men. Only a few studies have investigated reproductive effects of concomitant exposure to several metals and controlled for potential confounders. Future studies should consider the contribution of combined exposure to various metals and/or other factors that may influence individual susceptibility to reproductive health impairment in men.Postoje indikacije da kombinacija genetskih, okolišnih i čimbenika načina života pridonosi uočenom poremećaju reprodukcijskog zdravlja u muškaraca. Metali su široko rasprostranjeni u čovjekovu okolišu te u hrani, vodi, zraku, cigaretnom dimu i alkoholnim pićima. Rezultati eksperimentalnih istraživanja sugeriraju štetne učinke većine ispitivanih metala na mušku reprodukcijsku funkciju. Međutim, odgovarajuća su istraživanja u ljudi oskudna. Ovaj rad sažima rezultate dosadašnjih epidemioloških istraživanja o učincima izloženosti metalima na mušku reprodukcijsku funkciju. Poseban naglasak dan je istraživanjima koja su razmatrala utjecaj istodobne izloženosti različitim metalima uz čimbenike čovjekova načina života i njihovo međudjelovanje na reprodukcijske učinke. Objavljeni rezultati daju dovoljno dokaza o štetnom djelovanju olova i žive na neke reprodukcijske parametre te kadmija na poremećaj prostate i razinu testosterona u serumu, čak u uvjetima umjerene do niske razine izloženosti. Manje je dokaza o štetnom djelovanju na kvalitetu sjemena i razinu spolnih hormona nađeno za mangan. Podaci koji upućuju na moguće štetno djelovanje arsena ili kroma nisu dosljedni, dok o štetnom djelovanju bora na mušku reprodukcijsku funkciju nema jasnih podataka. Utjecaj potencijalno uzročnih varijabli uzet je u obzir samo u nekoliko radova. Stoga buduća istraživanja poremećaja reprodukcijskog zdravlja u muškaraca trebaju razmatrati doprinos istovremene izloženosti različitim metalima koji u kombinaciji s ostalim čimbenicima mogu utjecati na osobnu (pre)osjetljivost