Ingeniería comprometida: una revisión preliminar de prácticas universitarias en ingeniería y sociedad en Colombia

Engineering is considered a discipline that favors the practical application of theory at the level of technoscience through interaction with other areas of knowledge. It is expected to transform the living conditions of society by providing solutions to complex problems that affect it. However, depending on the approach, this discipline can be used to dominate social sectors by controlling resources, means of production, and knowledge or to empower communities from a critical transformative perspective. Based on a series of educational and professional practice scenarios in Colombia, this article presents a review of some alternatives for a conscious praxis that encourages the development of a culture of peace. This practice is referred to as Engaged Engineering. Subsequently, we briefly explore the existing networks and articulations at the national level, and then, through a literature review, we describe and classify various EE initiatives in Colombia by institution, region, theme, and category. Finally, we present a discussion and some conclusions aimed at developing a preliminary understanding of how EE has materialized in the country and defining its main challenges and opportunities.La ingeniería se considera una disciplina que favorece la aplicación práctica de la teoría a nivel de la tecnociencia mediante la interacción con diferentes áreas del conocimiento. A través de ella, se espera transformar las condiciones de vida de la sociedad, aportando soluciones a los complejos problemas que la afectan. Sin embargo, dependiendo del enfoque, esta disciplina puede ser utilizada para dominar sectores sociales a través del control de recursos, medios de producción y conocimiento o para empoderar a las comunidades desde una perspectiva crítica transformadora. Este artículo presenta una revisión de diferentes alternativas para una praxis consciente de la ingeniería que favorezca la construcción de una cultura de paz desde los escenarios de la práctica educativa y profesional en Colombia. Dicha práctica se conceptualiza como ingeniería comprometida. Posteriormente, se hace una breve exploración de las redes y articulaciones en el orden nacional y luego, a través de una revisión bibliográfica, se describen y clasifican las iniciativas de ingeniería comprometida en Colombia por institución de origen, territorio de acción, temática y categoría. Finalmente, se establecen la discusión y las conclusiones, orientadas a establecer una aproximación preliminar a cómo se ha materializado la ingeniería comprometida en el país y a definir sus principales retos y oportunidades

Insecticide Reproductive Toxicity Profile: Organophosphate, Carbamate and Pyrethroids

Exposure to pesticides is very common world-wide, and is broadly known the acute toxic effects to humans of pesticides following a high dose exposure; however, knowledge about chronic low-dose adverse effects to specific pesticides is more limited. Reproductive functions can be affected, with birth defects, impaired fecund ability, infertility and altered growth. This paper will focus on the deleterious effects that may appear in the offspring, during early and later stages of life, after prenatal exposure to insecticides, not only on women with direct exposure but also on subjects with indirect exposure such as consumers or residents of rural communities. Prenatal exposure to pesticides could alter normal fetal development and could threaten future welfare. The main changes observed in prenatal exposure to organophosphates are alterations in the central nervous system, in the metabolic and hormonal system as endocrine disruptor and over the birth outcomes. Carbamates may cause developmental delay when the applications of carbamates during pregnancy were nearby the home. Pyrethroids are among the most frequently used pesticides and account for more than one-third of the insecticides currently marketed in the world. For this reason the prenatal exposition used to be for long periods causing clinical, biochemical and neurological changes

STEAM, sociedad y extensión universitaria en Colombia: Una propuesta preliminar desde el Buen Vivir

This paper presents a descriptive analysis of three university outreach projects in the STEAM area, in light of the objectives of Buen Vivir. It discusses about the role of the university in society, both from the hegemonic vision and some alternative proposals in the Global South. In addition, the different dimensions of the STEAM are shown and how they can be articulated to the idea of Buen Vivir. Various models of university extension are described, focusing on solidarity outreach from Universidad Nacional de Colombia, that is the way by which the projects studied were carried out with rural and urban communities. Although these were not carried out based on Sumak Kawsay, as they were thought, designed and executed from a transformative critical position, the analysis is possible and compatible. It is concluded that it is possible and viable to manage and execute STEAM processes of outreach within an academy against the logic of the prevailing market, generating concrete and diverse alternatives to development.Este trabajo presenta un análisis descriptivo de tres proyectos de extensión universitaria en el área de STEAM, a la luz de los Objetivos del Buen Vivir. Para ello se discute el rol de la universidad en la sociedad, tanto desde la visión hegemónica como algunas propuestas alternativas en el Sur Global. Se exponen, adicionalmente, las diferentes dimensiones STEAM y cómo se pueden articular a la idea de Buen Vivir. Se describen modelos de extensión universitaria, y se enfoca en la extensión solidaria de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, bajo la cual los proyectos estudiados fueron realizados con comunidades rurales y urbanas. Si bien éstos no se realizaron basados en el Sumak Kawsay, al ser pensados, diseñados y ejecutados desde una postura crítica transformadora, el análisis es posible y compatible. Se concluye que es viable gestar y ejecutar procesos STEAM de extensión dentro una academia en contravía a la lógica del mercado imperante, generando alternativas concretas y diversas al desarrollo

Analysis and description of disease-specific quality of life in patients with anal fistula

INTRODUCTION: In patients diagnosed with anal fistula, knowing the quality of life specifically related to the disease can help coloproctology specialists to choose the most appropriate therapeutic strategy for each case. The aim of our study is to analyzse and describe the factors related to the specific quality of life in a consecutive series of patients diagnosed with anal fistula. METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional study carried out from March 2015 to February 2017. All patients were assessed in the colorectal surgery unit of a hospital in southeast of Spain. After performing an initial anamnesis and a physical examination, patients diagnosed with anal fistula completed the Quality of Life in Ppatients with Anal Fistula Questionnaire (QoLAF-Q). This questionnaire specifically measures quality of life in people with anal fistula and its score range is the following: zero impact = 14 points, limited impact = 15 to 28 points, moderate impact = 29 to 42 points, high impact = 43 to 56 points, and very high impact = 57 to 70 points. RESULTS: A total of 80 patients were included. The median score obtained in the questionnaire for the sample studied was 34.00 (range=14-68). Statistically significant differences between patients with "primary anal fistula" (n=65) and "recurrent anal fistula" (n=15) were observed (mean rank=42.96 vs. mean rank=29.83, p=0.048). Furthermore, an inverse proportion (P=.016) between "time with clinical symptoms" and "impact on quality of life" was found (5 years: mean rank = 19.00). There were no statistically significant differences (P=.149) between quality of life amongst patients diagnosed with complex (mean rank = 36.13) and simple fistulae (mean rank = 43.59). CONCLUSIONS: Anal fistulae exert moderate-high impact on patients' quality of life. "Shorter time experiencing clinical symptoms" and the "presence of primary fistula" are factors that can be associated with worse quality of life

APLICAÇÃO DA METODOLOGIA MCDA/C NA AVALIAÇÃO DOS PROGRAMAS ASSISTENCIAIS DO SUS: UM ESTUDO DE CASO NA SECRETARIA DE DESENVOLVIMENTO REGIONAL DE TUBARÃO, SANTA CATARINA

O objetivo desta pesquisa é avaliar o desempenho dos programas assistenciais do Sistema Único de Saúde – SUS – no âmbito dos municípios pertencentes à Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Regional de Tubarão, Estado de Santa Catarina. Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória, realizada por meio de um estudo de caso, via metodologia multicritério: MCDA-C. Com o resultado, foi possível: identificar os 13 aspectos a serem levados em conta no processo de avaliação dos programas; ilustrou-se o perfil de desempenho dos 9 programas analisados em cada município; identificou que os programas saúde do homem, sistema de saúde às pessoas com deficiência e atenção integral às pessoas em situações e riscos de violência necessitam de maior atenção por parte dos coordenadores

Design and psychometric evaluation of the Quality of Life in patients with Anal Fistula Questionnaire

BACKGROUND: Quality of life is often considered when deciding and evaluating the treatment strategy for patients diagnosed with anal fistula. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop and psychometrically test the Quality of Life in Patients with Anal Fistula Questionnaire. DESIGN: This was an observational cross-sectional study for the development and validation of a psychometric tool. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a general hospital in the southeast of Spain. PATIENTS: A convenience sample included 54 patients diagnosed with anal fistula. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: The reliability of the tool was assessed through its internal consistency (Cronbach α) and temporal stability (Spearman correlation coefficient (r) between test–retest). The content validity index of the items and the scale was calculated. Correlation analysis and an ordinal regression analysis between the developed tool and the Short Form 12 Health Survey examined its concurrent validity. Principal component analysis and known-group analysis using the Kruskal–Wallis test examined its construct validity. RESULTS: The reliability of the developed questionnaire was very high (α = 0.908; r = 0.861; p < 0.01). Its content validity was excellent (all-item content validity index = 0.79–1.00; scale validity index = 0.92). Evidence of its concurrent validity included strong correlation between the developed tool and Short Form 12 Health Survey (r = 0.734; p < 0.001), and participant scores on the developed tool explained ≈46.2% of the between-subject variation for the participant scores on Short Form 12 Health Survey (Nagelkerke R2 = 0.462). Confirming its construct validity, principal component analysis revealed that 2 factors explained 81.63% of the total variance found. Known-group analysis evidenced the ability of the questionnaire to detect expected differences in patients presenting with different symptomatology. LIMITATIONS: The major limitations of this study were the use of a small sample of Spanish-speaking patients, not including patients in the initial development of the questionnaire, and developing the scoring system using a summation method. CONCLUSIONS: The Quality of Life in Patients with Anal Fistula Questionnaire has proven to be a valid, reliable, and concise tool that could contribute to the evaluation of quality of life among patients with an anal fistula. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A368

Interferon-γ and IL-10 release assay for patients with ocular toxoplasmosis

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with ocular toxoplasmosis were challenged with total antigens from Toxoplasma gondii lysate (TATL) in a cytokine release assay (CRA), run during the inactive period of the disease. Increased interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels were detected after PBMC stimulation with either ME49 reference strain (P = 0.0015) or local TgCkAr-11-9 isolate (P = 0.0012), as compared with those recorded under basal conditions. TATL from TgCkAr11-9 isolate induced a higher release of IFN-γ than ME49 strain in CRA from all tested patients (P = 0.02). The median value of IFN-γ release on TgCkAr-11-9 stimulation (26.03 pg/mL) allowed the classification of patients into high- or low-/non-IFN-γ releasers. Clinical correlations were established with both groups. The results obtained in this study suggest the need to include local strains when performing CRA with TATL.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria