Aportes para la búsqueda de modelos de organización académica flexibles

El impacto de la flexibilidad en Educación Superior puede ser analizado en términos de las transformaciones de sus relaciones entre categorías y prácticas curriculares, pedagógicas, académicas y administrativas y de gestión. En este caso, se ponen en consideración algunas líneas para reflexionar acerca de la flexibilidad académica en nuestras instituciones universitarias. “El campo académico tiene que ver con la forma como los agentes (generalmente los profesores) se organizan alrededor de disciplinas o regiones del conocimiento. Dicha organización crea espacios académicos específicos en la educación superior (la universidad, por ejemplo) que se institucionalizan como lugares de pertenencia, o adscripción de los profesores.” (Díaz Villa y Caraveo, 2010:7) En primer lugar, se analiza la relación entre la organización del conocimiento y la organización académica. En segundo lugar, se intenta abordar el estudio de la tarea docente, los rasgos esenciales que la definen, los cambios operados en los últimos años durante el proceso de profesionalización. En este sentido, será indispensable analizar los cambios operados en la institución universitaria que ejercieron presión sobre las transformaciones en la tarea académica. Por último, se intenta delinear algunas premisas para pensar posibles modificaciones que tiendan a impulsar el desarrollo de un modelo de organización académica más flexible que tienda al debilitamiento de los límites rígidos y el fortalecimiento de las inter-relaciones entre unidades, que pueda conducir a la generación de formas de trabajo más socializado, participativo y cooperativo

Heat Shock Proteins in Vascular Diabetic Complications: Review and Future Perspective

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a large family of proteins highly conserved throughout evolution because of their unique cytoprotective properties. Besides assisting protein refolding and regulating proteostasis under stressful conditions, HSPs also play an important role in protecting cells from oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Therefore, HSPs are crucial in counteracting the deleterious effects of hyperglycemia in target organs of diabetes vascular complications. Changes in HSP expression have been demonstrated in diabetic complications and functionally related to hyperglycemia-induced cell injury. Moreover, associations between diabetic complications and altered circulating levels of both HSPs and anti-HSPs have been shown in clinical studies. HSPs thus represent an exciting therapeutic opportunity and might also be valuable as clinical biomarkers. However, this field of research is still in its infancy and further studies in both experimental diabetes and humans are required to gain a full understanding of HSP relevance. In this review, we summarize current knowledge and discuss future perspective

Oxidative stress and kidney dysfunction due to ischemia/reperfusion in rat: attenuation by dehydroepiandrosterone.

Oxidative stress and kidney dysfunction due to ischemia/reperfusion in rat: Attenuation by dehydroepiandrosterone.BackgroundThe pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) involves generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. This in vivo study investigates the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a physiologic steroid with antioxidant properties, on oxidative balance and renal dysfunctions induced by monolateral I/R.MethodsNormal and DHEA-treated rats (4mg/day × 21 days, orally) were subjected to monolateral renal I/R (30 minutes/6 hours). The oxidative state was determined by measuring hydrogen peroxide level and activities of glutathione-peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels were also measured. Hydroxynonenal content was used to probe lipid peroxidation. Functional parameters determined were creatinine levels and Na/K-ATPase activity. Immunohistochemical and morphologic studies were also performed.ResultsA markedly pro-oxidant state was evident in the kidney of rats subjected to I/R. Both hydrogen peroxide and reactive nitrogen species (nitric oxide and iNOS) increased, whereas antioxidants decreased. Oxidant species induce TNF-α increase, which, in turn, produces lipoperoxidative processes, as documented by the increased hydroxynonenal (HNE) level. As final result, impaired renal functionality, hydropic degeneration, and vacuolization of proximal convolute tubules were observed in kidneys of I/R rats. DHEA pretreatment improved the parameters considered.ConclusionI/R induces oxidative stress and consequently damages the proximal convolute renal tubules. Rats supplemented with DHEA and subjected to I/R had reduced pro-oxidant state, oxidative damage, and improved renal functionality, indicating an attenuation of oxidative injury and dysfunctions mediated by I/R