Uso de geogebra y probabilidades: herramientas de interfaz pedagógica en la enseñanza de la estadística / Geogebra and probabilities uses: pedagogic interface tools in the statistics teaching

El artículo pretende provocar un acercamiento a la enseñanza de la estadística descriptiva y probabilística, con el diseño de experiencias didácticas basadas en experiencias de maestros que aprenden de maestros a través de la implementación de tecnologías de información y comunicación, con el fin de implementar un recurso concreto para la modelación y estructuración de situaciones en las que las diferentes distribuciones de probabilidad se pueden implementar pedagógicamente. Como estrategia pedagógica, se persigue más que “hacer datos”, conseguir la familiaridad del concepto, con el cual los estudiantes colombianos están enfrentados en particular dentro del componente de estándares básicos de pensamiento aleatorio y variacional (MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN NACIONAL -MEN-, 2006). La estrategia, para el cuerpo de docentes del área de matemáticas y estadística, constituye una metodología dirigida a la conformación de un banco de alternativas innovadoras para trabajar didácticamente en estos conceptos tanto en su didáctica, como en su forma de implementar el software libre GeoGebra. La perspectiva de la propuesta se materializa en la expresión reflexiva de estrategias de enseñanza continuamente mejoradas. En cuanto a la estadística descriptiva e inferencial, se persigue el desarrollo de actitudes positivas de maestros y de estudiantes frente a la cotidianidad y al mundo de la vida, en donde las actividades suelen involucrar situaciones contextualizadas en las que se demanda del lenguaje estadístico. 

Cytokine Production but Lack of Proliferation in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Chronic Chagas' Disease Cardiomyopathy Patients in Response to T. cruzi Ribosomal P Proteins

Background:Trypanosoma cruzi ribosomal P proteins, P2β and P0, induce high levels of antibodies in patients with chronic Chagas' disease Cardiomyopathy (CCC). It is well known that these antibodies alter the beating rate of cardiomyocytes and provoke apoptosis by their interaction with β1-adrenergic and M2-muscarinic cardiac receptors. Based on these findings, we decided to study the cellular immune response to these proteins in CCC patients compared to non-infected individuals.Methodology/Principal findings:We evaluated proliferation, presence of surface activation markers and cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with P2β, the C-terminal portion of P0 (CP0) proteins and T. cruzi lysate from CCC patients predominantly infected with TcVI lineage. PBMC from CCC patients cultured with P2β or CP0 proteins, failed to proliferate and express CD25 and HLA-DR on T cell populations. However, multiplex cytokine assays showed that these antigens triggered higher secretion of IL-10, TNF-α and GM-CSF by PBMC as well as both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells subsets of CCC subjects. Upon T. cruzi lysate stimulation, PBMC from CCC patients not only proliferated but also became activated within the context of Th1 response. Interestingly, T. cruzi lysate was also able to induce the secretion of GM-CSF by CD4+ or CD8+ T cells.Conclusions/Significance:Our results showed that although the lack of PBMC proliferation in CCC patients in response to ribosomal P proteins, the detection of IL-10, TNF-α and GM-CSF suggests that specific T cells could have both immunoregulatory and pro-inflammatory potential, which might modulate the immune response in Chagas' disease. Furthermore, it was possible to demonstrate for the first time that GM-CSF was produced by PBMC of CCC patients in response not only to recombinant ribosomal P proteins but also to parasite lysate, suggesting the value of this cytokine to evaluate T cells responses in T. cruzi infection.Fil: Longhi, Silvia Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Atienza, Augusto. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Perez Prados, Graciela. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Buying, Alcinette. Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies; Estados UnidosFil: Balouz, Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Buscaglia, Carlos Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Santos, Radleigh. Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies; Estados UnidosFil: Tasso, Laura Mónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Bonato, Ricardo. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Chiale, Pablo. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Pinilla, Clemencia. Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies; Estados UnidosFil: Judkowski, Valeria A.. Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies; Estados UnidosFil: Gomez, Karina Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentin

Immunological imbalance between IFN-³ and IL-10 levels in the sera of patients with the cardiac form of Chagas disease

The immune response is crucial for protection against disease; however, immunological imbalances can lead to heart and digestive tract lesions in chagasic patients. Several studies have evaluated the cellular and humoral immune responses in chagasic patients in an attempt to correlate immunological findings with clinical forms of Chagas disease. Moreover, immunoglobulins and cytokines are important for parasitic control and are involved in lesion genesis. Here, cytokine and IgG isotype production were studied, using total epimastigote antigen on sera of chagasic patients with indeterminate (IND, n = 27) and cardiac (CARD, n = 16) forms of the disease. Samples from normal, uninfected individuals (NI, n = 30) were use as controls. The results showed that sera from both IND and CARD patients contained higher levels of Trypanosoma cruzi-specific IgG1 (IgG1) antibodies than sera from NI. No difference in IgG2 production levels was observed between NI, IND and CARD patients, nor was a difference in IL-10 and IFN-³ production detected in the sera of IND, CARD and NI patients. However, IND patients displayed a positive correlation between IL-10 and IFN-³ levels in serum, while CARD patients showed no such correlation, indicating an uncontrolled inflammatory response in CARD patients. These findings support the hypothesis that a lack of efficient regulation between IFN-³ and IL-10 productions in CARD patients may lead to cardiac immunopathology.CNP

Chagas' disease: an update on immune mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

The final decade of the 20th century was marked by an alarming resurgence in infectious diseases caused by tropical parasites belonging to the kinetoplastid protozoan order. Among the pathogenic trypanosomatids, some species are of particular interest due to their medical importance. These species include the agent responsible for Chagas' disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. Approximately 8 to 10 million people are infected in the Americas, and approximately 40 million are at risk. in the present review, we discuss in detail the immune mechanisms elicited during infection by T. cruzi and the effects of chemotherapy in controlling parasite proliferation and on the host immune system.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Instituto Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e QuImica Medicinal em Doencas Infecciosas (INBEQMeDI)Univ São Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilMackenzie Presbeterian Univ, Ctr Biomol Sci & Hlth, São Paulo, BrazilNatl Univ Rosario, Sch Med Sci, Inst Immunol, Rosario, Santa Fe, ArgentinaCSIC, Inst Parasitol & Biomed Lopez Neyra, Granada, SpainUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 08/57596-4FAPESP: 07/08648-9CNPq: 473906/2008-2Web of Scienc

Immunity and vaccine development efforts against Trypanosoma cruzi

Artículo de revisión especializadoTrypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is the causative agent for Chagas disease (CD). There is a critical lack of methods for prevention of infection or treatment of acute infection and chronic disease. Studies in experimental models have suggested that the protective immunity against T. cruzi infection requires the elicitation of Th1 cytokines, lytic antibodies and the concerted activities of macrophages, T helper cells, and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). In this review, we summarize the research efforts in vaccine development to date and the challenges faced in achieving an efficient prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine against human CD.UTM

Epidemiology and pathogenesis of maternal-fetal transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi and a case for vaccine development against congenital Chagas disease

Trypanos o ma cruzi (T. cruzi or Tc) is the causative agent of Chagas disease (CD). It is common for patients to suffer from non-specific symptoms or be clinically asymptomatic with acute and chronic conditions acquired through various routes of transmission. The expecting women and their fetuses are vulnerable to congenital transmission of Tc. Pregnant women face formidable health challenges because the frontline antiparasitic drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, are contraindicated during pregnancy. However, it is worthwhile to highlight that newborns can be cured if they are diagnosed and given treatment in a timely manner. In this review, we discuss the pathogenesis of maternal-fetal transmission of Tc and provide a justification for the investment in the development of vaccines against congenital CD.Fil: Rios, Lizette. University of Texas Medical Branch; Estados UnidosFil: Campos, Emiliano Emanuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Patología Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Instituto de Patología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Menon, Ramkumar. University of Texas Medical Branch; Estados UnidosFil: Zago, María Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Patología Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Instituto de Patología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Garg, Nisha J.. University of Texas Medical Branch; Estados Unido

CD4 Th1 but not Th2 clones efficiently activate macrophages to eliminate Trypanosoma cruzi through a nitric oxide dependent mechanism

We have recently generated CD4 clones from BALB/c mice immunized with a plasmid DNA containing the gene encoding for the catalytic domain of trans-sialidase, an important enzyme expressed on the surface of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes. These clones allowed us to study in vitro the interaction between T cells and T. cruzi-infected macrophages. A cytotoxic CD4 clone of the Th1 type effectively activated macrophages to kill intracellular amastigote forms of T. cruzi. in contrast, CD4 Th2-like clones were much less efficient, being unable to activate macrophages to significantly reduce parasite development. We found that the anti-parasitic activity of Th1 cells was completely suppressed by the presence of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors. Also, we observed that anti-IFN-gamma antibodies significantly inhibited the anti-parasitic activity of these cells. We conclude that trypomastigote-specific Th1 cells activate macrophages to kill intracellular amastigotes of T. cruzi by a mechanism exclusively dependent on the induction of nitric oxide synthesis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Microglanis nigrolineatus, a new species from northwestern Argentina (Ostariophysi: Pseudopimelodidae)

Microglanis nigrolineatus, new species, is described from streams of Bermejo River basin, northwestern Argentina. It is distinguished from all congeners by a combination of characters including a unique coloration pattern: a thin dark line that runs along middle body from vertical line through dorsal-fin origin to end of adipose fin, delimiting two dark-brown areas ending in a dark blotch crossing entire body depth just anterior to caudal-fin origin and dorsal region of head uniformly dark, lacking a paler area on nuchal region. Also, thorn serrae on anterior margin of pectoral-fin spine are short. This is the first species of Microglanis described from Argentina.Fil: Teran, Guillermo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Ribeirao Jarduli, Lucas. Universidad Estadual de Londrina; BrasilFil: Alonso, Felipe. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; ArgentinaFil: Mirande, Juan Marcos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Akio Shibatta, Oscar. Universidad Estadual de Londrina; Brasi