Perceptions on the importance of gerontological education by teachers and students of undergraduate health sciences

BACKGROUND: The main challenge of higher education institutions throughout the world is to develop professionals capable of understanding and responding to the current social priorities of our countries. Given the utmost importance of addressing the complex needs of an increasingly elderly population in Mexico, the National Autonomous University of Mexico has systematically incorporated modules dealing with primary gerontological health care into several of its undergraduate programs in health sciences. The objective of this study was to analyze teacher's and student's perceptions about the current educational practices on gerontology. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 26 teachers and 122 undergraduate students. Subjects were administered interviews and responded survey instrument. RESULTS: A vast proportion of the teachers (42%) reported students' attitudes towards their academic training as the most important factor affecting learning in the field of gerontology, whereas students reported that the main problems of education in gerontology were theoretical (32%) and methodological (28%). In addition, 41% of students considered education on ageing matters as an essential element for their professional development, as compared to 19% of teachers (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the teachers' perceptions about the low importance of education on ageing matters for the professional practice of health sciences could be a negative factor for gerontology teaching

Oxidative stress as a risk factor for osteoporosis in elderly Mexicans as characterized by antioxidant enzymes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Oxidative stress (OxS) has recently been linked with osteoporosis; however, we do not know the influence of OxS as an independent risk factor for this disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a case-control study in 94 subjects ≥60 years of age, 50 healthy and 44 with osteoporosis. We measured total antioxidant status, plasma lipid peroxides, antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and calculated the SOD/GPx ratio. Bone mineral density was obtained at the peripheral DXA in calcaneus using a portable Norland Apollo Densitometer^®. Osteoporosis was considered when subjects had a BMD of 2.5 standard deviations or more below the mean value for young adults.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>GPx antioxidant activity was significantly lower in the group of subjects with osteoporosis in comparison with the group of healthy subjects (<it>p </it>< 0.01); in addition, the SOD/GPx ratio was significantly higher in the group of individuals with osteoporosis (<it>p </it>< 0.05). In logistic regression analysis, we found OxS to be an independent risk factor for osteoporosis (odds ratio [OR] = 2.79; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.08–7.23; <it>p </it>= 0.034).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings suggest that OxS is an independent risk factor for osteoporosis linked to increase of SOD/GPx ratio.</p

Active aging promotion: results from the Vital Aging Program

Active aging is one of the terms in the semantic network of aging well, together with others such as successful, productive, competent aging. All allude to the new paradigm in gerontology, where by aging is considered from a positive perspective. Most authors in the field agree active aging is a multidimensional concept, embracing health, physical and cognitive fitness, positive affect and control, social relationships and engagement. This paper describes Vital Aging, an individual active aging promotion program implemented through three modalities: Life, Multimedia, and e-Learning. The program was developed on the basis of extensive evidence about individual determinants of active aging. e different versions of Vital Aging are described, and four evaluation studies (both formative and summative) are reported. Formative evaluation reflected participants's satisfaction and expected changes; summative evaluations yielded some quite encouraging results using quasi-experimental designs: those who took part in the programs increased their physical exercise, signicantly improved their diet, reported better memory, had better emotional balance, and enjoyed more cultural, intellectual, affective, and social activities than they did before the course, thus increasing their social relationships. These results are discussed in the context of the common literature within the field and, also, taking into .account the limitations of the evaluations accomplished.Vital Aging Programs were sponsored by the Institute for Older Adults and Social Services (IMSERSO-UAM Agreements 1997-00), the Socrates Minerva Program of the European Commission (AGE-LL-C, 2001-03), and the UAM Santander Research Program for Latin America (PUM-e 2011)

Active Aging Promotion: Results from the Vital Aging

Active aging is one of the terms in the semantic network of aging well, together with others such as successful, productive, competent aging. All allude to the new paradigm in gerontology, whereby aging is considered from a positive perspective. Most authors in the field agree active aging is a multidimensional concept, embracing health, physical and cognitive fitness, positive affect and control, social relationships and engagement. This paper describes Vital Aging, an individual active aging promotion program implemented through three modalities: Life, Multimedia, and e-Learning. The program was developed on the basis of extensive evidence about individual determinants of active aging. The different versions of Vital Aging are described, and four evaluation studies (both formative and summative) are reported. Formative evaluation reflected participants’ satisfaction and expected changes; summative evaluations yielded some quite encouraging results using quasi-experimental designs: those who took part in the programs increased their physical exercise, significantly improved their diet, reported better memory, had better emotional balance, and enjoyed more cultural, intellectual, affective, and social activities than they did before the course, thus increasing their social relationships. These results are discussed in the context of the common literature within the field and, also, taking into account the limitations of the evaluations accomplished

Swine health: history, challenges and prospects

En los sistemas de producción porcina, uno de los puntos críticos que deben ser atendidos con estricto rigor, es la salud de los cerdos. La salud, es un componente estructural del bienestar animal y refleja un estado óptimo de los animales, lo que repercute directamente en un mayor desempeño productivo y mejores condiciones de desarrollo. Uno de los eslabones más frágiles de la salud de los cerdos, es la presencia de enfermedades infecciosas más importantes, las cuales pueden representar pérdidas hasta del 100 % de la producción, por lo cual, debe ser un tema de atención constante, y continuamente vigilado por el Médico Veterinario Zootecnista y los productores, en perfecta coordinación con las autoridades sanitarias oficiales. En la actualidad, la implementación de mejores prácticas en la cadena productiva es de interés para productores y consumidores. El control de las enfermedades infecciosas debe ser un tema de colaboración entre los diferentes actores del entorno y ser considerado un bien público, ya que las repercusiones negativas, pueden ser desde el nivel local hasta mundial. En la presente revisión, se abordará la temática relacionada con las principales enfermedades infecciosas que ponen en riesgo la salud porcina, el impacto, las principales aportaciones realizadas por el Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP) en sus 35 años de vida, específicamente en el Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad (CENID-SAI), anteriormente conocido como el emblemático CENID-Microbiología o Palo Alto.In swine production systems, one of the critical points that must be strictly attended to is the health of the pigs. Health is a structural component of animal welfare and reflects an optimal state of the animals, which has a direct impact on a higher productive performance and better development conditions. Infectious diseases are one of the greatest threats to the health of pigs and can cause losses of up to 100 % of production; therefore, it requires constant attention and continuous monitoring by the veterinarian and producers, in perfect coordination with the official health authorities. Currently, the implementation of best practices in the production chain is of interest to both producers and consumers. The control of infectious diseases requires collaboration between the various actors in the environment and must be considered a public good, since their negative repercussions can range from the local to the global level. This review will address the main infectious diseases that endanger swine health, their impact, the main contributions made by the National Institute for Research in Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock (INIFAP) in its 35 years of life, mainly at the National Center for Disciplinary Research in Animal Health and Safety (CENID-SAI), formerly known as the emblematic CENID-Microbiología or Palo Alto

Megaproyectos urbanos y productivos. Impactos socio-territoriales

El desarrollo de megaproyectos productivos trae consigo oportunidades para el crecimiento económico, la generación de empleos y el desarrollo regional. No obstante, en la actualidad, los grandes temas como la expansión urbana, el desarrollo industrial, las cementeras, la minería, el uso intensivo del agua y demás recursos naturales, preocupan a las comunidades por los impactos generados y porque en lo general, no consideran la racionalidad y responsabilidad ambiental y social hacia el entorno. En este contexto son diversos los estudios científicos que, en el marco de la política de económica imperante, intentan posicionarse como alternativas a proyectos económicos que confrontan los intereses particulares y comunitarios y que afectan la salud humana y ambiental. Megaproyectos urbanos y productivos. Impactos socio-territoriales, reúne veinticinco textos académicos sobre las afectaciones que éstos emprendimientos tienen para la sociedad y el entorno. Los temas expuestos recogen experiencias en el desarrollo urbano, industrial, turístico, portuario y aeroportuario, entre otros. Así mismo se retoman temas como la ética, la dialéctica, la política y la economía y su relación en el emprendimiento de megaproyectos. La búsqueda de esquemas productivos racionales y responsables con el entorno, que reivindiquen el derecho de las comunidades a un medio ambiente sano, a la preservación del territorio y sus recursos y de las formas de vida tradicionales, son los referentes para la realización del presente libro. Como elemento central se concibe el territorio como contenedor de identidad y vida, siendo preocupación y tema de estudio de la comunidad académica, las organizaciones de la sociedad civil y las redes de activistas organizados.UAEM, CONACyT, se