Pilot study on university students' opinion about STEM studies at higher education

The percentages of women enrolled in higher education in the STEM sector are significantly lower than those of men. Overall, gender representation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics degrees in Europe is not balanced. The Leaky Pipeline phenomenon, marked by gender stereotypes, makes the latent gender gap a relevant topic of study. Studies exist on academic performance, self-perception, self-efficacy, outcome expectations; however, studying gender stereotypes linked to STEM studies is also essential. It is necessary to know the social and family context in which young people have grown up, as well as their perception of such studies. To study gender stereotypes of university students about STEM studies, a questionnaire has been designed for empirical validation. For the design of the instrument, to be validated, items from other instruments have been taken and adapted to Spanish. After the design of the instrument, an online pilot study has been applied in the University of Salamanca, the University of Valencia and the Polytechnic University of Valencia. A total of 115 people answered the questionnaire. The results of the pilot study reveal that the study sample is not particularly marked by gender stereotypes about gender equality in STEM. Also, the sample is receptive to learning about science and applying it in their lives. On the other hand, the idea that women have to give up their studies and careers to look after their families and children is rejected. The idea that men are more interested in university studies than women is also rejected. At the same time, the sample is aware of the difficulties that women encounter in the STEM sector. Another optimistic point of the results is that there are no alarming data on bad experiences due to gender. In the future, the study will be replicated on a larger scale

La activación de la vía de señalización PI3K/AKT por el factor de crecimiento similar a la insulina tipo II estimula la expresión del mARN de la metaloproteinasa 9 en células de coriocarcinom

Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and Tissue Inhibitor-1 of MMPs (TIMP-1) could contribute to regulate the invasive behaviour of trophoblastic cells, effect which could be mediated by Insulin- like growth factor type II (IGF-II), which regulates the development and function of trophoblast at the foetal-maternal interface. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway activated by IGF-II in the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 involved in the invasion process in the human choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3. MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1mARNexpression in those cells were evaluated by RT-PCR using different IGF-II doses and conditions while signalling pathway was evaluated using Western blot. It was found that IGF-II does not contribute to trophoblastic cells proliferation, however, it promotes mARN expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1, but not of MMP-2, in a dose-dependent way. The effect on MMP-9 expression is mediated through IGF-II activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway after phosphorylation of the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR). According with the results a model is proposed in which the interaction of IGF-II with IGF-IR leads to PI3K/AKT activation and subsequent expression and activation of MMP-9. This activation is an essential requirement for the invasive process

La activación de la vía de señalización PI3K/AKT por el factor de crecimiento similar a la insulina tipo II estimula la expresión del mARN de la metaloproteinasa 9 en células de coriocarcinom

Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and Tissue Inhibitor-1 of MMPs (TIMP-1) could contribute to regulate the invasive behaviour of trophoblastic cells, effect which could be mediated by Insulin- like growth factor type II (IGF-II), which regulates the development and function of trophoblast at the foetal-maternal interface. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway activated by IGF-II in the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 involved in the invasion process in the human choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3. MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1mARNexpression in those cells were evaluated by RT-PCR using different IGF-II doses and conditions while signalling pathway was evaluated using Western blot. It was found that IGF-II does not contribute to trophoblastic cells proliferation, however, it promotes mARN expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1, but not of MMP-2, in a dose-dependent way. The effect on MMP-9 expression is mediated through IGF-II activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway after phosphorylation of the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR). According with the results a model is proposed in which the interaction of IGF-II with IGF-IR leads to PI3K/AKT activation and subsequent expression and activation of MMP-9. This activation is an essential requirement for the invasive process

Costo-efectividad de la colecistectomía laparoscópica y de la abierta en una muestra de población colombiana

Introduction: Cholecystectomy has been the subject of several clinical and cost comparison studies. Objective: The results of open or laparoscopy cholecystectomy were compared in terms of cost and effectiveness from the perspective of healthcare institutions and from that of the patients. Materials and methods: The cost-effectiveness study was undertaken at two university hospitals in Bogotá, Colombia. The approach was to select the type of cholecystectomy retrospectively and then assess the result prospectively. The cost analysis used the combined approach of micro-costs and daily average cost. Patient resource consumption was gathered from the time of surgery room entry to time of discharge. A sample of 376 patients with cholelithiasis/cystitis (May 2005-June 2006) was selected-156 underwent open cholecystectomy and 220 underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The following data were tabulated: (1) frequency of complications and mortality, post-surgical hospital stay, (2) reincorporation to daily activities, (3) surgery duration, (4) direct medical costs, (5) costs to the patient, and (6) mean and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Results: Frequency of complications was 13.5% for open cholecystectomy and 6.4% for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (p=0.02); hospital stay was longer in open cholecystectomy than in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (p=0.003) as well as the reincorporation to daily activities reported by the patients (p less than 0.001). The duration of open cholecystectomy was 22 min longer than laparoscopic cholecystectomy (p less than 0.001). The average cost of laparoscopic cholecystectomy was lower than open cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomywas more cost-effective than open cholecystectomy (US$995 vs. US$ 1,048, respectively). The patient out-of-pocket expenses were greater in open cholecystectomy compared to laparoscopic cholecystectomy (p=0.015). Mortality was zero. Conclusions: The open laparoscopy procedure was associated with longer hospital stays, whereas the cholecystectomy procedure required a longer surgical duration. The direct cost of the latter was lower for both for the healthcare institution and patients. The cost-effectiveness for both procedures was comparable

Costo-efectividad de la colecistectomía laparoscópica y de la abierta en una muestra de población colombiana

Introduction: Cholecystectomy has been the subject of several clinical and cost comparison studies. Objective: The results of open or laparoscopy cholecystectomy were compared in terms of cost and effectiveness from the perspective of healthcare institutions and from that of the patients. Materials and methods: The cost-effectiveness study was undertaken at two university hospitals in Bogotá, Colombia. The approach was to select the type of cholecystectomy retrospectively and then assess the result prospectively. The cost analysis used the combined approach of micro-costs and daily average cost. Patient resource consumption was gathered from the time of surgery room entry to time of discharge. A sample of 376 patients with cholelithiasis/cystitis (May 2005-June 2006) was selected-156 underwent open cholecystectomy and 220 underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The following data were tabulated: (1) frequency of complications and mortality, post-surgical hospital stay, (2) reincorporation to daily activities, (3) surgery duration, (4) direct medical costs, (5) costs to the patient, and (6) mean and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Results: Frequency of complications was 13.5% for open cholecystectomy and 6.4% for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (p=0.02); hospital stay was longer in open cholecystectomy than in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (p=0.003) as well as the reincorporation to daily activities reported by the patients (p less than 0.001). The duration of open cholecystectomy was 22 min longer than laparoscopic cholecystectomy (p less than 0.001). The average cost of laparoscopic cholecystectomy was lower than open cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomywas more cost-effective than open cholecystectomy (US$995 vs. US$ 1,048, respectively). The patient out-of-pocket expenses were greater in open cholecystectomy compared to laparoscopic cholecystectomy (p=0.015). Mortality was zero. Conclusions: The open laparoscopy procedure was associated with longer hospital stays, whereas the cholecystectomy procedure required a longer surgical duration. The direct cost of the latter was lower for both for the healthcare institution and patients. The cost-effectiveness for both procedures was comparable