"Programa de educación ambiental popular en el uso y manejo del recurso hídrico"

La presente investigación tiene como producto un proyecto de Educación ambiental en salud comunitaria, en especial en el uso y manejo del recurso hídrico en la comunidad de El Peñón, ubicada en el corregimiento de Las Cumbres, distrito y provincia de Panamá, en la zona este de la cuenca hidrográfica del Canal de Panamá. En este trabajo compuesto por cinco capítulos, se desarrollan aspectos teóricos que caracterizan la comunidad y a los pobladores de El Peñón en el marco de la formación social panameña. También se desarrolla el concepto de educación ambiental, sus orígenes, principios y objetivos y se distinguen los tipos de educación ambiental, presentando las nociones de educación formal, informal, no formal y popular. Un análisis de la situación económica, social y ambiental de El Peñón constituye la base objetiva sobre la cual se elabora el Programa de Educación Ambiental. Este análisis parte de los antecedentes históricos, destacando el papel de la carretera transístmica, la cual se constituye también en la vía atrayente sobre el cual se conforman nuevos poblados en el área metropolitana, incluyendo El Peñón. Otro insumo importante para la elaboración del programa de educación ambiental en el uso y manejo del recurso hídrico es el diagnóstico del uso del recurso hídrico en la comunidad El Peñón. La propuesta de educación ambiental que centra su temática en el uso y manejo del recurso hídrico. Se plantea sobre la base del concepto de educación ambiental popular. Se parte de la identificación del grupo meta, se identifica el mensaje que se quiere destacar en las labores de capacitación, se aborda la estrategia educativa en la cual se define la metodología, actividades y recursos didácticos a utilizar y finalmente se plantea la forma de evaluación y la programación misma

Smoking status and tumor necrosis factor-alpha mediated systemic inflammation in COPD patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Smoking cause airway and systemic inflammation and COPD patients present low grade inflammation in peripheral blood. However, data on the influence of smoking itself on systemic inflammation in COPD patients are scarce. This study investigated the association between inflammation, smoking status, and disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional analysis comparing 53 COPD ex-smokers, 24 COPD current smokers, 24 current smoker controls and 34 never-smoker controls was performed. Assessments included medical history, body composition, spirometry, and plasma concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukins (IL)-6, IL-8, and C-reactive protein (CRP).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our exploratory analysis showed that serum TNF-α was higher in COPD current smokers [4.8(4.2-5.8)pg/mL] and in current smoker controls [4.8 (4.2-6.1) pg/mL] when compared to COPD ex-smokers [4.3 (3.9-4.9)pg/mL; p = 0.02] and to never-smoker controls [3.7 (3.4-4.0)pg/mL; p < 0.001]. Multiple regression results with and without adjustment for covariates were consistent with the hypothesis that TNF-α levels were associated with smoking status in both models (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). IL-6 and CRP were significantly higher in COPD patients when compared to smoker and never-smoker controls and the multiple regression analysis confirmed the association of these mediators with disease, but not with smoking status (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). IL-8 had only a borderline association with disease in both models (p = 0.069 and p = 0.053). No influence of disease severity, inhaled corticosteroid, fat-free mass (FFM) depletion and long term oxygen therapy (LTOT) use on systemic inflammation was found.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Smoking may influence TNF-α mediated systemic inflammation, which, in turn, may account for some of the benefits observed in patients with COPD who stop smoking.</p

Fundus Autofluorescence and Spectral Domain OCT in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Background. To describe the standard autofluorescence (FAF), the near infrared autofluorescence (NIA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) patterns in central serous chorioretinopathy, correlating them with fluorescein angiography. Methods. Cross-sectional observational study, in which patients with at least seven months of CSC underwent ophthalmologic examination, fundus photography, FAF, NIA, fluorescein angiography (FA), and spectral-domain OCT. Results. Seventeen eyes of thirteen patients were included. the presentation features were a mottled hyperFAF in the detached area and areas with pigment mottling. NIA images showed areas of hyperNIA similar to FAF and localized areas of hypoNIA, which correlated with the points of leakage in the FA. OCT showed pigment epithelium detachment at the location of these hypoNIA spots. Discussion. FAF showed increased presence of fluorophores in the area of retinal detachment, which is believed to appear secondary to lipofuscin accumulation in the RPE or the presence of debris in the subretinal fluid. NIA has been related to the choroidal melanin content and there were areas of both increased and decreased NIA, which could be explained by damage ahead the retina, basically RPE and choroid. These findings, along with the PEDs found in the areas of hypoNIA, support the notion of a primary choroidal disease in CSC.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol, Paulista Sch Med, BR-04025011 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol, Paulista Sch Med, BR-04025011 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Committee V.1: Accidental Limit States

Concern for accidental scenarios for ships and offshore structures and for their structural components leading to limit states. Types of accidental scenarios shall include collision, grounding, dropped objects, explosion, and fire. Attention shall be given to hazard identification, accidental loads and nonlinear structural consequences including strength reduction, affecting the probability of failure and related risks. Uncertainties in the use of accidental scenarios for design and analysis shall be highlighted. Consideration shall be given to the practical application of methods and to the development of ISSC guidance for quantitative assessment and management of accidental risks

Evaluación del impacto social de la Licenciatura en Educación Especial en dos subregiones de Antioquia, Colombia

This research paper presents the results of the evaluation of the social impact of the Special Education undergraduate program, of the University of Antioquia’s Education Faculty, in the East and Southwest subregions of the Antioquia department (Colombia). The main objective was to evaluate the impact of the Program among the graduates and other audiences. The methodology was carried out under a qualitative design, in the evaluative research modality, Social Programs impact type of evaluation. The results of the research were structured under the following categories: Assessment of the quality of the Program, the role of the Special Educator, significant experiences and their impact, and location and working conditions of the graduates. Finally, it poses recommendations to various academic units of the University.Keywords: special education, evaluation, social impact, graduates, occupational performance, assessment.En el presente artículo se dan a conocer los resultados de la evaluación del impacto social del programa de Licenciatura en Educación Especial, Facultad de Educación de la Universidad de Antioquia, en las subregiones de Oriente y Suroeste del departamento de Antioquia (Colombia), cuyo objetivo principal fue evaluar el impacto del Programa desde los egresados y otras audiencias. La metodología se llevó a cabo bajo un diseño cualitativo, modalidad de investigación evaluativa, tipo de evaluación de impacto de programas sociales. Los resultados se estructuraron bajo las categorías: valoración de la calidad del Programa, rol del educador especial, experiencias significativas y su impacto, y ubicación y condiciones laborales de los egresados y egresadas. Finalmente, se plantean recomendaciones a diferentes unidades académicas de la Universidad

Expression analysis of genes associated with human osteosarcoma tumors shows correlation of RUNX2 overexpression with poor response to chemotherapy

Background: Human osteosarcoma is the most common pediatric bone tumor. There is limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying osteosarcoma oncogenesis, and a lack of good diagnostic as well as prognostic clinical markers for this disease. Recent discoveries have highlighted a potential role of a number of genes including: RECQL4, DOCK5, SPP1, RUNX2, RB1, CDKN1A, P53, IBSP, LSAMP, MYC, TNFRSF1B, BMP2, HISTH2BE, FOS, CCNB1, and CDC5L. Methods: Our objective was to assess relative expression levels of these 16 genes as potential biomarkers of osteosarcoma oncogenesis and chemotherapy response in human tumors. We performed quantitative expression analysis in a panel of 22 human osteosarcoma tumors with differential response to chemotherapy, and 5 normal human osteoblasts.Results: RECQL4, SPP1, RUNX2, and IBSP were significantly overexpressed, and DOCK5, CDKN1A, RB1, P53, and LSAMP showed significant loss of expression relative to normal osteoblasts. In addition to being overexpressed in osteosarcoma tumor samples relative to normal osteoblasts, RUNX2 was the only gene of the 16 to show significant overexpression in tumors that had a poor response to chemotherapy relative to good responders. Conclusion: These data underscore the loss of tumor suppressive pathways and activation of specific oncogenic mechanisms associated with osteosarcoma oncogenesis, while drawing attention to the role of RUNX2 expression as a potential biomarker of chemotherapy failure in osteosarcoma. © 2010 Sadikovic et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

The interplay of matrix metalloproteinase-8, transforming growth factor-beta 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor-C cooperatively contributes to the aggressiveness of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) has oncosuppressive properties in various cancers. We attempted to assess MMP-8 function in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). Methods: MMP-8 overexpressing OTSCC cells were used to study the effect of MMP-8 on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and gene and protein expression. Moreover, MMP-8 functions were assessed in the orthotopic mouse tongue cancer model and by immunohistochemistry in patient samples. Results: MMP-8 reduced the invasion and migration of OTSCC cells and decreased the expression of MMP-1, cathepsin-K and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C). VEGF-C was induced by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in control cells, but not in MMP-8 overexpressing cells. In human OTSCC samples, low MMP-8 in combination with high VEGF-C was an independent predictor of poor cancer-specific survival. TGF-beta 1 treatment also restored the migration of MMP-8 overexpressing cells to the level of control cells. In mouse tongue cancer, MMP-8 did not inhibit metastasis, possibly because it was eliminated in the peripheral carcinoma cells. Conclusions: The suppressive effects of MMP-8 in OTSCC may be mediated through interference of TGF-beta 1 and VEGF-C function and altered proteinase expression. Together, low MMP-8 and high VEGF-C expression have strong independent prognostic value in OTSCC.Peer reviewe