El Discurso del profesorado de educación musical en la innovación educativa con tic: posicionamientos en la evaluación del software tactus.

En este estudio empírico se analizan los posicionamientos del profesorado en torno a la evaluación de un software diseñado ad hoc, para el aprendizaje del ritmo musical denominado "Tactus". El objetivo principal es estudiar los discursos y opiniones del profesorado en la evaluación de dicho software, lo que se articula mediante el análisis de los discursos (n = 115) en 8 grupos de discusión, a través de un modelo explicativo de 5 clústeres. El estudio aporta una visión diversa, variada y completa en la evaluación de software educativo a partir de los discursos docentes. This paper presents teachers positioning analysis around the assessment of ad hoc software designed for learning musical rhythm called "Tactus". The main objective is to study the teachers speeches and opinions in software assessment, which is built through the speeches analysis (n = 115) in 8 focus groups, with a descriptive model of 5 clusters. The study gives us a diverse, varied and a full picture in educational software evaluation trough teachers' discourses analysis

Introducing automation to the molecular diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection: A comparative study of sample treatments, DNA extraction methods and real-time PCR assays

Background Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become a useful tool for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. The development of automated DNA extraction methodologies and PCR systems is an important step toward the standardization of protocols in routine diagnosis. To date, there are only two commercially available Real-Time PCR assays for the routine laboratory detection of T. cruzi DNA in clinical samples: TCRUZIDNA.CE (Diagnostic Bioprobes Srl) and RealCycler CHAG (Progenie Molecular). Our aim was to evaluate the RealCycler CHAG assay taking into account the whole process. Methodology/Principal findings We assessed the usefulness of an automated DNA extraction system based on magnetic particles (EZ1 Virus Mini Kit v2.0, Qiagen) combined with a commercially available Real-Time PCR assay targeting satellite DNA (SatDNA) of T. cruzi (RealCycler CHAG), a methodology used for routine diagnosis in our hospital. It was compared with a well-known strategy combining a commercial DNA isolation kit based on silica columns (High Pure PCR Template Preparation Kit, Roche Diagnostics) with an in-house Real-Time PCR targeting SatDNA. The results of the two methodologies were in almost perfect agreement, indicating they can be used interchangeably. However, when variations in protocol factors were applied (sample treatment, extraction method and Real-Time PCR), the results were less convincing. A comprehensive fine-tuning of the whole procedure is the key to successful results. Guanidine EDTA-blood (GEB) samples are not suitable for DNA extraction based on magnetic particles due to inhibition, at least when samples are not processed immediately. Conclusions/Significance This is the first study to evaluate the RealCycler CHAG assay taking into account the overall process, including three variables (sample treatment, extraction method and Real-Time PCR). Our findings may contribute to the harmonization of protocols between laboratories and to a wider application of Real-Time PCR in molecular diagnostic laboratories associated with health centers.Fil: Abras, Alba. Universidad de Barcelona; España. Universidad de Girona; España. Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Ballart, Cristina. Universidad de Barcelona; España. Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Llovet, Teresa. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; España. Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau; EspañaFil: Roig, Carme. Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau; EspañaFil: Gutiérrez, Cristina. Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau; EspañaFil: Tebar, Silvia. Universidad de Barcelona; España. Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Berenguer, Pere. Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau; EspañaFil: Pinazo, María-Jesús. Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Posada, Elizabeth. Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Gascón, Joaquim. Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Schijman, Alejandro Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Gállego, Montserrat. Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona; España. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Muñoz, Carmen. Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau; España. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Españ

Strengthening the Bolivian pharmacovigilance system: New surveillance strategies to improve care for Chagas disease and tuberculosis.

"Chagas disease (CD) and tuberculosis (TB) are important health problems in Bolivia. Current treatments for both infections require a long period of time, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are frequent. This study aims to strengthen the Bolivian pharmacovigilance system, focusing on CD and TB. A situation analysis of pharmacovigilance in the Department of Cochabamba was performed. The use of a new local case report form (CRF) was implemented, together with the CRF established by the Unidad de Medicamentos y Tecnolog\xC3\xADa en Salud (UNIMED), in several healthcare centers. Training and follow-up on drug safety monitoring and ADR reporting was provided to all health professionals involved in CD and TB treatment. A comparative analysis of the reported ADRs using the CRF provided by UNIMED, the new CRF proposal, and medical records, was also performed. Our results showed that out of all patients starting treatment for CD, 37.9% suffered ADRs according to the medical records, and 25.3% of them were classified as moderate/severe (MS). Only 47.4% of MS ADRs were reported to UNIMED. Regarding TB treatment, 9.9% of all patients suffered ADRs, 44% of them were classified as MS, and 75% of MS ADRs were reported to UNIMED. These findings show that the reinforcement of the Bolivian pharmacovigilance system is an ambitious project that should involve a long-term perspective and the engagement of national health workers and other stakeholders at all levels. Continuity and perseverance are essential to achieve a solid ADR reporting system, improving patient safety, drug efficacy and adherence to treatment.

A Social Approach to Chagas Disease: A First Step to Improve Access to Comprehensive Care

The aim of this chapter is to provide new insights to the traditional approaches of the problematic of Chagas disease by questioning the hegemonic paradigmatic frameworks through which the topic is traditionally studied and addressed. These questionings and the proposals derived from them are supported on the evidence of an epidemiological change and entail a transformation in the way of understanding the “disease,” the “affected people,” and the diverse actors and scenarios involved in the problematic.Grupo de Didáctica de las Ciencia

Derechos sexuales y reproductivos en mujeres con diagnóstico de trastorno mental grave: argumentos y consensos de profesionales en salud mental comunitaria

This study explores the arguments of mental health practitioners around the exercise or infringement of sexual and reproductive rights of women with a severe mental health diagnosis, in order to both gain insight and establish priorities for further research and intervention actions in the field. Data has been collected applying the Delphy method and a thematic content analysis has been carried out.  The results and analysis show evidence that gender interacts with the social stigma associated with severe mental health conditions, positioning these women in vulnerable social situations, which has a negative effect on exercising their sexual and reproductive rights. These negative effects become evident both in the ambit of their sexuality, which appears characterized by taboo and medicalisation, and in the reproductory sphere, which is characterized by reproductive control and where they are seen as incompetent mothers. Because of the above generated views, these women are placed in oppressive and abusive situations.  In conclusion, the following elements have been identified for further research: stigma attached to diagnosis of the severe mental health condition, the exercise of the symbolic power over the construction of subjectivity and there production of social exclusion.  Finally, social action guidelines are proposed, leading to the revision of resources, the recognition of women with severe mental health conditions and the establishment processes with the participation of scientific and professional fields as well as the women and their families. Con el objetivo de conocer los argumentos de profesionales de la salud mental en torno al ejercicio y/o vulneración de los derechos sexuales y reproductivos (DSR) de las mujeres con diagnóstico en trastorno mental grave (DTMG) y establecer prioridades para la investigación en intervención dentro del área, aplicamos el método Delphi para la obtención de información y un análisis del contenido temático para su análisis.Los resultados evidencian como el género interactúa con el estigma social asociado al DTMG como elementos que posicionan a las mujeres en situaciones de vulnerabilidad social, los cuales tienen efectos negativos sobre el ejercicio de sus DSR. Estos efectos están presentes tanto en el área de la sexualidad, caracterizada por el tabú y la medicalización, como en el área de la reproducción, caracterizada por la mirada incapacitante en torno a la maternidad y el control reproductivo. Asimismo, sitúan a las mujeres en posiciones de opresión que favorecen situaciones de abusos y maltratos.Se concluye destacando los elementos clave para la comprensión del fenómeno, los cuales serán de utilidad para el desarrollo de futuros análisis en el área: el estigma del DTMG, el ejercicio del poder simbólico sobre la construcción de la subjetividad y la reproducción de la exclusión social. Finalmente, proponemos líneas de acción social orientadas a revisar los recursos, el reconocimiento de la agencia de las mujeres con DTMG, y el establecimiento de procesos donde participen el saber científico y profesional, las mujeres y sus familias

Desarrollo de vacunas para la enfermedad de Chagas (CRUZIVAX): preferencias de las partes interesadas y posibles impactos en la asistencia sanitaria

A vaccine for Chagas disease does not currently exist. This study aims to inform the development of two vaccines for the prevention and treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi infection, and guide their pre-clinical phase up to clinical phase I. The three main objectives are: 1) to explore patients’ and policy makers’ preferences on the candidate vaccines in Argentina and Spain; 2) to investigate health-related quality of life of patients affected by Chagas disease; and 3) to assess the potential health provider savings associated with the vaccines, in terms of resource use and health care costs. Discrete choice experiments will be employed to estimate and characterize the theoretical demand for the vaccines and investigate patients’ and policy makers’ preferences. Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Resources use and costs associated with Chagas disease will be investigated using information from the databases of the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona

Plasma-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Potential Biomarkers in Heart Transplant Patient with Chronic Chagas Disease

Chagas disease is emerging in countries to which it is not endemic. Biomarkers for earlier therapeutic response assessment in patients with chronic Chagas disease are needed. We profiled plasma-derived extracellular vesicles from a heart transplant patient with chronic Chagas disease and showed the potential of this approach for discovering such biomarkers.Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) receives support from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019–2023 Program (CEX2018-000806-S). ISGlobal and Institut d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP) are members of the Centres de Recerca de Catalunya (CERCA Program), Generalitat de Catalunya. Work in the laboratory of C.F.B. is funded by Fundació La Marató de TV3 (reference 566/U/2018) and Fundación Mundo Sano. This project was co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund with the support of Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Empresa i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya. N.C., M.G., J.G., and M.J.P. receive funds from the Redes temáticas de investigación cooperativa en salud (RETICS), Spanish Tropical Diseases Network “RD12/0018/0010” and from the Agencia de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, Generalitat de Catalunya; grant “2017 SGR 00924.” M.G., C.B., J.G., M.J.P., and I.C.A. belong to the Ibero-American Nuevas Herramientas para el Diagnóstico y la Evaluación del Paciente con Enfermedad de Chagas network. I.C.A. is partially supported by grants no. 2G12MD007592 and 5U54MD007592 from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the US National Institutes of Health. We are grateful to the Biomolecule Analysis Core Facility at University of Texas at El Paso, Border Biomedical Research Center, funded by National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities grants 2G12MD007592 and 5U54MD007592. M.T.M. received a PhD fellowship from the Science Without Borders Program, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brazil.S

Epidemiology of imported malaria among children and young adults in Barcelona (1990-2008)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Increasing international travel and migration is producing changes in trends in infectious diseases, especially in children from many European cities. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology and determine the trends of imported malaria in patients under 20 years old in the city of Barcelona, Spain, during an 18-year period.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study included malaria cases that were laboratory confirmed and reported to the malaria register at the Public Health Agency of Barcelona from 1990 to 2008, residing in Barcelona and less than 20 years old. Patients were classified as natives (born in Spain) or immigrants. Differences in the distribution of demographic, clinical characteristics, and incidence per 100,000 person-year evolution were analysed. Natives and immigrants were compared by logistic regression by calculating the <it>odds ratio </it>(OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and Chi-square for a linear trend (p < 0.05).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the total 174 cases, 143 (82.1%) were immigrants, 100 (57.5%) were female, 121 (69.5%) <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>, and 108 (62.1%) were visiting friends and relatives (VFR) as the reason for travel. Among the immigrants, 99 (67.8%) were from Equatorial Guinea. Immigrant cases more frequently travelled to Africa than natives (p = 0.02). The factors associated with imported malaria among immigrant residents was travelling for VFR (OR: 6.2 CI 1.9-20.2) and age 15-19 (OR: 3.7 CI 1-13.3). The incidence increased from 1990 to 1999 (p < 0.001) and decreased from 2000 to 2008 (p = 0.01), although the global linear trend was not statistically significant (p = 0.41). The fatality rate was 0.5%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The majority of cases of malaria in population less than 20 years in Barcelona were immigrants, travelling to Africa for VFR and <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>was most frequently detected. The trend analysis of the entire study period did not show a statistically significant decline. It is recommended to be aware of malaria, especially among children of immigrants who travel to their parent's home country for VFR. Better access to pre travel advice should be provided.</p