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Las universidades difunden su producción científica a través de portales de investigación donde integran las publicaciones de sus investigadores, las cuales proceden de bases de datos bibliográficas como Web of Science. Este estudio examinó la correspondencia entre la información de los investigadores de la Universidad de Salamanca en Web of Science y en el Portal de la Investigación de la USAL. La metodología empleada fue mixta e incluyó técnicas de análisis automatizados y manuales para el tratamiento de datos de Web of Science que permitieron identificar las inconsistencias en los datos de publicaciones y autores. Se desarrolló una metodología en cinco fases que apoyó en la extracción semiautomática de identificadores ResearcherID de Web of Science de los investigadores que carecían de dicho identificador en el Portal USAL, así como en la validación de la corrección de los identificadores existentes. El método utilizado en el análisis y en la tipificación de incidencias son replicables en cualquier entidad de investigación. Las conclusiones determinan la consistencia de la información procedente de Web of Science, abogan por la autonomía de las plataformas institucionales de las fuentes externas y ofrecen soluciones para alcanzar la mejor calidad en los datos de una universidad en las plataformas comerciales de producción científica.

ABSTRACT A balanced immune response to infection is essential to prevent the pathology and tissue damage that can occur from an unregulated or hyperactive host defense. Interferons (IFNs) are critical mediators of the innate defense to infection, and in this study we evaluated the contribution of a specific gene coding for IFIT2 induced by type I IFNs in a murine model of disseminated Candida albicans. Invasive candidiasis is a frequent challenge during immunosuppression or surgical medical interventions, and C. albicans is a common culprit that leads to high rates of mortality. When IFIT2 knockout mice were infected systemically with C. albicans, they were found to have improved survival and reduced fungal burden compared to wild-type mice. One of the mechanisms by which IFIT2 increases the pathological effects of invasive C. albicans appears to be suppression of NADPH oxidase activation. Loss of IFIT2 increases production of reactive oxygen species by leukocytes, and we demonstrate that IFIT2 is a binding partner of a critical regulatory subunit of NADPH oxidase, p67phox. Since the administration of IFN has been used therapeutically to combat viral infections, cancer, and multiple sclerosis, we evaluated administration of IFN-β to mice prior to C. albicans infection. IFN-β treatment promoted pathology and death from C. albicans infection. We provide evidence that IFIT2 increases the pathological effects of invasive C. albicans and that administration of IFN-β has deleterious effects during infection. IMPORTANCE The attributable mortality associated with systemic C. albicans infections in health care settings is significant, with estimates greater than 40%. This life-threatening disease is common in patients with weakened immune systems, either due to disease or as a result of therapies. Type I interferons (IFN) are cytokines of the innate defense response that are used as immune modulators in the treatment of specific cancers, viral infections, and multiple sclerosis. In this study, we show using a murine model that the loss of a specific IFN-stimulated gene coding for IFIT2 improves survival following systemic C. albicans infection. This result infers a harmful effect of IFN during C. albicans infection and is supported by our finding that administration of IFN-β prior to invasive infection promotes fatal pathology. The findings contribute to our understanding of the innate immune response to C. albicans, and they suggest that IFN therapies present a risk factor for disseminated candidiasis.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus prevalence has increased worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to evaluate in the Colombian context whether the geographic variations of mortality due to type 2 diabetes mellitus are random or statistically significant and to measure the effect of the socioeconomic conditions of municipalities on these variations. An ecological study of trends for regions and subregions was undertaken considering two periods (2003-2009 and 2010-2016). The study population consisted of adults of 20 to 79 years old residing in each of Colombia’s municipalities during the period 2003-2016. Smoothed and standardized mortality rates were obtained by fitting a hierarchical Bayesian model, which considers the spatial structure of the data. Four socioeconomic variables related to municipal deprivation and development were included into the model to obtain their relative risk (RR) and 95% credible intervals. Mortality due to type 2 diabetes mellitus decrease between 2003 and 2016 in Colombia, both nationally and regionally. In addition, there was a clear positive association between mortality due to diabetes mellitus and the level of municipal development; the wealthiest and most developed municipalities had higher mortality risks.

La distribución de alimentos guarda relaciones con transformaciones socioeconómicas territoriales. Procesos como la urbanización están ligados a la expansión del modelo corporativo, en detrimento de formas tradicionales de comercialización. Mediante estudio cualitativo de casos colectivos se describen las características de distribución de alimentos en un territorio rururbanizado: San Cristóbal en Medellín-Colombia. Se halló que la distribución de alimentos está influenciada por dinámicas geográficas: el modelo corporativo se ubica en zonas con mayor influencia urbana y opera al margen del contexto local de producción de alimentos, mientras que el modelo tradicional se encuentra ampliamente distribuido, con diferencias operativas de acuerdo al tipo de vereda donde se localiza, a mayor distancia de áreas urbanas se disminuyen las capacidades de abastecimiento y comercialización. Ambos modelos coexisten, y sus formas de operación condicionan la disponibilidad y acceso a los alimentos, indicando su importancia como escenario de actuación de políticas públicas garantes de soberanía y seguridad alimentaria.