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Este artigo avalia a implementação de um modelo pedagógico de educação para a Cidadania Ambiental no 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico (CEB) em Portugal (alunos entre seis e dez anos). O objetivo foi testar o modelo em contexto real escolar, de modo a ser avaliado pelos próprios alunos, procurando responder às seguintes questões de investigação: (1) Quais as perceções dos alunos do 1.º CEB sobre as atividades de Cidadania Ambiental realizadas?; e (2) Quais as aprendizagens que resultaram das atividades de Cidadania Ambiental realizadas? Esta testagem constitui uma das iterações de uma Investigação Baseada em Design destinada a conceber um Modelo Pedagógico de Educação para a Cidadania Ambiental no 1.º CEB em Portugal. A implementação do modelo pedagógico foi realizada em quatro escolas públicas do 1.º CEB, num total de 23 turmas (orientadas por 23 professoras) e cerca de 500 alunos, distribuídos pelos 4 anos de escolaridade. Com base em observação direta, notas de campo e entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas aos alunos, procurou-se identificar as suas perceções acerca das atividades de Cidadania Ambiental realizadas e as aprendizagens que resultaram dessas atividades. De um modo geral, os alunos, após a realização das atividades de Cidadania Ambiental, desenvolveram competências de Cidadania Ambiental, mudaram os seus comportamentos e atitudes e demonstraram vontade em participar de forma mais ativa na resolução de problemas ambientais locais em conjunto com a comunidade escolar e local, tendo ficado, desta forma, mais empoderados para a ação. A implementação do modelo pedagógico foi realizada em quatro escolas públicas do 1.º CEB, num total de 23 turmas (orientadas por 23 professoras) e cerca de 500 alunos distribuídos pelos 4 anos de escolaridade. Com base em observação direta, notas de campo e entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas aos alunos, procurou-se identificar as suas perceções acerca das atividades de Cidadania Ambiental realizadas e as aprendizagens que resultaram dessas atividades. De um modo geral, os alunos, após a realização das atividades de Cidadania Ambiental, desenvolveram competências de Cidadania Ambiental, mudaram os seus comportamentos e atitudes e demonstraram vontade em participar de forma mais ativa na resolução de problemas ambientais locais em conjunto com a comunidade escolar e local, tendo ficado, desta forma, mais empoderados para a ação.

Este artículo evalúa la implementación de un modelo pedagógico de educación para la ciudadanía ambiental en el primer ciclo de educación básica (1º CEB), en Portugal (alumnos entre 6 y 10 años). El objetivo era probar un modelo didáctico en un contexto escolar real, intentando responder a las siguientes preguntas de investigación: (1) ¿Cuáles son los principales factores que apoyan o justifican la implantación de un modelo didáctico de educación para la ciudadanía ambiental en el 1º CEB? (2) ¿Cuáles son los principales factores que dificultan la implantación de un modelo didáctico de educación para la ciudadanía ambiental en el 1º CEB, y cómo superarlos? (3) ¿Cómo interpreta el profesorado de primaria el modelo didáctico y lo ponen en práctica en el aula? (4) ¿Cuál es la percepción del profesorado de 1º CEB sobre la idoneidad de este modelo para la realización de una educación para la ciudadanía ambiental en este nivel de escolarización? Este trabajo constituye una de las iteraciones de una Investigación Basada en el Diseño cuyo objetivo es desarrollar un Modelo Didáctico para la educación para la ciudadanía ambiental en el 1º de CEB en Portugal. Esta implementación se llevó a cabo en cuatro escuelas públicas, en Portugal, con 23 clases (dirigidas por 23 maestras) y unos 500 estudiantes en total, repartidos en 4 cursos escolares (1º a 4º). A partir de la observación directa, notas de campo y entrevistas semiestructuradas con las maestras, se respondió a las cuestiones de investigación y se identificaron sus percepciones sobre las principales competencias a desarrollar por los estudiantes, así como las respectivas metodologías y estrategias educativas consideradas más adecuadas para una educación promotora de competencias de ciudadanía ambiental en la enseñanza primaria. Además, fue posible observar cómo las maestras implementaron en el aula el modelo didáctico propuesto e identificar las dificultades experimentadas durante su aplicación.

Coherent pluggable optics are rapidly evolving and are introducing advanced optical capabilities not yet supported in current standard packet host systems. A management paradigm is presented, that simplifies the integration of smart optical pluggables into hosts, accelerating the deployment of these advanced optical capabilities into disaggregated networks and a wide set of host devices. It relies on a host-independent management channel which integrates into the optical transport control system, maintaining the separation between packet and optical domains.

Cr-doped Al2O3 spheres with strong red emission were produced using a simple laser processing approach with a 50 W continuous CO2 laser. Structural characterization revealed that the produced spheres were monophasic, comprising the α-Al2O3 phase. Photoluminescence (PL) studies indicated that the observed red emission originates from multiple Cr3+ optical centers being dominated by the 2E → 4A2 transition (R-lines), with a further contribution from the parity and spin forbidden 2T1 → 4A2 transition (R′-lines). The identification of additional radiative recombination from chromium ion pairs (N-lines) evidences that the produced samples are heavily doped. As such, energy transfer processes between the different chromium optical centers are seen to take place, as suggested by the lifetime decay analysis. PL excitation revealed that the room temperature luminescence is preferentially populated via the spin-allowed 4A2 → 4T2,4T1 transitions and by the parity and spin-forbidden 4A2 → 2T2 (B-lines), 2T1 (R′-lines), 2E (R-lines). Such results demonstrate that the present synthesis method is able to deliver high-optical-quality Al2O3:Cr crystals in a fast and simple way, with potential interest for optical, sensing, or lasing applications.

El trabajo que se presenta ha consistido en un análisis de los datos de indicadores de calidad de la UPCT utilizando herramientas estadísticas sencillas, acompañado de una revisión bibliográfica de numerosas publicaciones sobre las encuestas de satisfacción y la carga de trabajo. Se han empleado los datos de los títulos de Arquitectura y Edificación de la UPCT durante el curso 2017-2018 y, para contextualizar los resultados, también los del conjunto de esa Universidad y su comparativa con dos cursos anteriores. El objetivo ha sido conocer la relación entre las variables disponibles, su evolución temporal y las posibles diferencias por cursos, tipos de asignatura, niveles, etc., para mejorar los procesos de gestión de la información de la UPCT. Se discuten los resultados obtenidos, entre ellos la no existencia de sesgos en las encuestas de satisfacción y las posibles implicaciones de cargas de trabajo elevadas en determinadas asignaturas. Abstract The work presented has consisted of an analysis of the UPCT quality indicator data using simple statistical tools, accompanied by a bibliographic review of numerous publications on satisfaction surveys and workload. The data of the degrees in Architecture and Building of the UPCT during the academic year 2017-2018 have been used and, to contextualize the results, also those of the whole of that University and its comparison with twor previous courses. The objective has been to know the relationship between the available variables, their temporal evolution and the possible differences by course, type of subject, levels, etc., in order to improve the information management processes of the UPCT. The results obtained are discussed, including the nonexistence of biases in the satisfaction surveys and the possible implications of high workloads in certain subjects.

The present study is focused on the synthesis of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) nanomaterials using the hydrothermal method assisted by microwave irradiation and solution combustion synthesis. Both synthesis techniques resulted in ZrO2 powders with a mixture of tetragonal and monoclinic phases. For microwave synthesis, a further calcination treatment at 800 °C for 15 min was carried out to produce nanopowders with a dominant monoclinic ZrO2 phase, as attested by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. The thermal behavior of the ZrO2 nanopowder was investigated by in situ XRD measurements. From the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, the presence of near spherical nanoparticles was clear, and TEM confirmed the ZrO2 phases that comprised the calcinated nanopowders, which include a residual tetragonal phase. The optical properties of these ZrO2 nanopowders were assessed through photoluminescence (PL) and PL excitation (PLE) at room temperature (RT), revealing the presence of a broad emission band peaked in the visible spectral region, which suffers a redshift in its peak position, as well as intensity enhancement, after the calcination treatment. The powder resultant from the solution combustion synthesis was composed of plate-like structures with a micrometer size; however, ZrO2 nanoparticles with different shapes were also observed. Thin films were also produced by solution combustion synthesis and deposited on silicon substrates to produce energy storage devices, i.e., ZrO2 capacitors. The capacitors that were prepared from a 0.2 M zirconium nitrate-based precursor solution in 2-methoxyethanol and annealed at 350 °C exhibited an average dielectric constant (κ) of 11 ± 0.5 and low leakage current density of 3.9 ± 1.1 × 10−7 A/cm2 at 1 MV/cm. This study demonstrates the simple and cost-effective aspects of both synthesis routes to produce ZrO2 nanomaterials that can be applied to energy storage devices, such as capacitors.

Introduction: Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a rare mucocutaneous disease whose incidence increases with age and about 20% of cases occur in children and adolescents. Mortality reaches 5%. Case description: We present a male adolescent, 11 years old, admitted due to oral mucosa erosions, lips edema and erythema, enanthema, cutaneous target lesions and edemaciate, erythematous and exudative glans, treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs one day before the onset of cutaneous symptoms. The diagnostic tests didn’t show alterations and microbiological tests and serologies were negative. The patient was admitted to the Pediatrics Department with diagnosis of SJS. He was hospitalized for 10 days with intravenous analgesia, mucositis solution and topical emollient, hydric and nutritional reinforcement. He exhibited successive improvement of lesions with complete resolution after 2 weeks. Conclusions: The diagnosis of SJS is clinical, with special emphasis to the use of drugs or the presence of previous infection. Its recognition is important so that clinical intervention can occur as early as possible, decreasing the likelihood of complications and death.

Zn1+xGa2−2xGexO4 (ZGGO:Cr)-persistent phosphor, with a molar fraction, x, of x = 0.1, doped with a 0.5% molar of chromium, was synthesised via solid-state reaction at 1350 °C for 36 h. X-ray diffraction measurements and Raman spectroscopy evidence a single crystalline phase corresponding to the cubic spinel structure. Room temperature (RT) photoluminescence (PL) and afterglow decay profiles were investigated using above and below bandgap excitation. In both cases, persistent PL was observed for almost 8 h, mainly originating from a Cr3+ defect, the so-called N2 optical centre. RT PL excitation and diffuse reflectance allow identification of the best pathways of Cr3+ red/NIR emission, as well as estimation of the ZGGO bandgap energy at 4.82 eV. An in-depth investigation of the observed luminescence at 15 K and temperature-dependent PL under site-selective excitation reveals the spectral complexity of the presence of several optically active Cr3+ centres in the ZGGO host that emit in almost the same spectral region. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of the R-lines’ intensity indicates the existence of thermal populating processes between the different optical centres. Such observations well account for a wide distribution of defect trap levels available for carrier capture/release, as measured by the persistent luminescence decay, from which the carriers are released preferentially to the N2 Cr3+-related optical centre.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a wide bandgap semiconductor material that has been widely explored for countless applications, including in biosensing. Among its interesting properties, its remarkable photoluminescence (PL), which typically exhibits an intense signal at room temperature (RT), arises as an extremely appealing alternative transduction approach due to the high sensitivity of its surface properties, providing high sensitivity and selectivity to the sensors relying on luminescence output. Therefore, even though not widely explored, in recent years some studies have been devoted to the use of the PL features of ZnO as an optical transducer for detection and quantification of specific analytes. Hence, in the present paper, we revised the works that have been published in the last few years concerning the use of ZnO nanostructures as the transducer element in different types of PL-based biosensors, namely enzymatic and immunosensors, towards the detection of analytes relevant for health and environment, like antibiotics, glucose, bacteria, virus or even tumor biomarkers. A comprehensive discussion on the possible physical mechanisms that rule the optical sensing response is also provided, as well as a warning regarding the effect that the buffer solution may play on the sensing experiments, as it was seen that the use of phosphate-containing solutions significantly affects the stability of the ZnO nanostructures, which may conduct to misleading interpretations of the sensing results and unreliable conclusions.

In this work, a novel approach to synthesise zinc oxide (ZnO) directly on flexible copper substrates is proposed.The produced samples show a foam-like morphology made of agglomerates of small ZnO particles when processed at laser energy density of 18.0 J/cm2. On the other hand, the samples processed at higher beam energy density, i.e. 33.2 J/cm2, resulted in a more granular morphology, with some ZnO particles dispersed over the sample’s surface.Raman spectroscopy measurements demonstrated that this method resulted in the formation of wurtzite-ZnO crystalline phase in all samples. Room temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy analysis revealed the presence of a broad visible band in the orange-red region dominating the spectra, with a small contribution from the near band edge emission in the UV spectral region. Decreasing the beam energy fluence from 33.2 to 18.0 J/cm2 resulted in samples with higher overall visible band intensity, in line with what was observed for their crystalline quality. Moreover, the shift of the broad band maxima towards longer wavelengths could be an indication of the possibility of tuning the visible emission according to the chosen laser processing conditions. Keywords: Zinc oxide, Copper, Laser processing, Oxidation, Spectroscopy

Zinc oxide (ZnO)/laser-induced graphene (LIG) composites were prepared by mixing ZnO, grown by laser-assisted flow deposition, with LIG produced by laser irradiation of a polyimide, both in ambient conditions. Different ZnO:LIG ratios were used to infer the effect of this combination on the overall composite behavior. The optical properties, assessed by photoluminescence (PL), showed an intensity increase of the excitonic-related recombination with increasing LIG amounts, along with a reduction in the visible emission band. Charge-transfer processes between the two materials are proposed to justify these variations. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy evidenced increased electron transfer kinetics and an electrochemically active area with the amount of LIG incorporated in the composites. As the composites were designed to be used as transducer platforms in biosensing devices, their ability to detect and quantify hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was assessed by both PL and CV analysis. The results demonstrated that both methods can be employed for sensing, displaying slightly distinct operation ranges that allow extending the detection range by combining both transduction approaches. Moreover, limits of detection as low as 0.11 mM were calculated in a tested concentration range from 0.8 to 32.7 mM, in line with the values required for their potential application in biosensors.

El presente artículo intenta indagar en el estatus político de la filosofía a partir de una lectura de Gilles Deleuze y Jacques Rancière. Este vínculo nos parece pertinente para comprender o dar un nuevo enfoque a la crisis actual de lo político, en la que pareciera no haber alternativa al presentarse como un dispositivo que reproduce la desigualdad y descontento social (política institucional, política de partidos). La elaboración de esta investigación, intenta mostrar que la crisis existente tiene como parte del problema su concepción de política misma. Es por ello que la pregunta ¿qué es realmente la política?, es fundamental para pensar nuestra actualidad. Por lo anterior, la relevancia de la concepción de política en ambos autores, reside en su radicalización que permite evidenciar a toda política institucional como policial. La política siempre surge y refiere a un Afuera que se resiste a ser apresado por un sistema, institución y toda lógica normativa. Lo político es resistencia pura, devenir en proceso. A través del examen del vínculo entre filosofía y política (la llamada filosofía política), se propone una aproximación a una comprensión de lo político entendido como resistencia elaborada por ambos autores, vínculo que logra dar cuenta de la potencialidad de la política y del carácter dual de la filosofía. Esta dualidad es dada por su carácter creacional donde por un lado, tiene un rasgo emancipatorio, y por otro, un rasgo fundacional. Con respecto a lo anterior, se trabajará principalmente a partir de una lectura de ¿Qué es la filosofía? y Conversaciones, de Deleuze, haciendo aproximaciones a la obra de Rancière a partir de El desacuerdo y Aux bords du politique, principalmente.

En la actualidad se identifican estrategias educativas vinculadas al uso de la tecnología para la comunicación. Sin embrago, hoy en día, se tienen estudiantes universitarios y docentes de la llamada generación millennials, que han tenido influencia de estos medios por lo que están hiperconectados, al mismo tiempo que se reconocen capaces de realizar lo que se propongan. Estas características hacen necesaria el desarrollo de estrategias incluyentes que rescaten el uso de la tecnología que es de gran interés para estos alumnos pero, al mismo tiempo, no se olviden de aquellos que no cuentan con el manejo de dispositivos y pueden ser considerados como analfabetas digitales. Por otro lado, es importante reconocer los retos a los que se enfrentan los docentes que no utilizan estos medios por lo que existe una brecha digital que limita la comunicación en las aulas; por lo cual se requiere de docentes comprometidos, incluyentes, respetuosos y dispuestos a aprender unos de otros.

Tetragonal Er0.5Nb0.5O2 and monoclinic ErNbO4 micro- and nanoparticles were prepared by the citrate sol–gel method and heat-treated at temperatures between 700 and 1600 °C. ErNbO4 revealed a spherical-shaped crystallite, whose size increased with heat treatment temperatures. To assess their optical properties at room temperature (RT), a thorough spectroscopic study was conducted. RT photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy revealed that Er3+ optical activation was achieved in all samples. The photoluminescence spectra show the green/yellow 2H11/2, 4S3/2→4I15/2 and red 4F9/2→4I15/2 intraionic transitions as the main visible recombination, with the number of the crystal field splitting Er3+ multiplets reflecting the ion site symmetry in the crystalline phases. PL excitation allows the identification of Er3+ high-energy excited multiplets as the preferential population paths of the emitting levels. Independently of the crystalline structure, the intensity ratio between the green/yellow and red intraionic transitions was found to be strongly sensitive to the excitation energy. After pumping the samples with a resonant excitation into the 4G11/2 excited multiplet, a green/yellow transition stronger than the red one was observed, whereas the reverse occurred for higher excitation photon energies. Thus, a controllable selective excited tunable green to red color was achieved, which endows new opportunities for photonic and optoelectronic applications.

The mean-variance (MV) portfolio is typically formulated as a quadratic programming (QP) problem that linearly combines the conflicting objectives of minimizing the risk and maximizing the expected return through a risk aversion profile parameter. In this formulation, the two objectives are expressed in different units, an issue that could definitely hamper obtaining a more competitive set of portfolio weights. For example, a modification in the scale in which returns are expressed (by one or percent) in the MV portfolio, implies a modification in the solution of the problem. Motivated by this issue, a novel mean squared variance (MSV) portfolio is proposed in this paper. The associated optimization problem of the proposed strategy is very similar to the Markowitz optimization, with the exception of the portfolio mean, which is presented in squared form in our formulation. The resulting portfolio model is a non-convex QP problem, which has been reformulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problem. The reformulation of the initial non-convex QP problem into an MILP allows for future researchers and practitioners to obtain the global solution of the problem via the use of current state-of-the-art MILP solvers. Additionally, a novel purely data-driven method for determining the optimal value of the hyper-parameter that is associated with the MV and MSV approaches is also proposed in this paper. The MSV portfolio has been empirically tested on eight portfolio time series problems with three different estimation windows (composing a total of 24 datasets), showing very competitive performance in most of the problems.

Se presentan 2 casos clínicos de recién nacidas que, entre otros síntomas, presentaron cifras bajas de glucemia mantenidas (menores 2,2 mmol/L), por lo que fueron evaluadas en el Servicio de Endocrinología del Hospital Provincial Pediátrico Docente "Eduardo Agramonte Piña" de Camagüey, donde se les diagnosticó nesidioblastosis -- hipoglucemia neonatal persistente --. En una de las pacientes el tratamiento médico resultó favorable, pero en la otra fue necesario realizar la pancreatectomía subtotal. Actualmente ambas afectadas reciben esquemas terapéuticos adecuados a sus necesidades clínicas

INTRODUCCIÓN: el enfoque y tratamiento clínicos de la intersexualidad es un campo complejo y profundo, es además un terreno caracterizado por debates y polémicas en el que aún hay aspectos por dilucidar relativos al paradigma actual de atención de salud. La prescripción de terapias quirúrgicas y hormonales desde etapas tempranas de la vida está pautada, por lo que adquieren especial relevancia las experiencias y vivencias con los servicios de salud. OBJETIVOS: describir la experiencia de personas diagnosticadas con trastornos del desarrollo sexual en los servicios de salud, y desde su perspectiva, caracterizar la relación médico-paciente y el modelo de atención de salud. MÉTODOS: estudio exploratorio que utiliza como metodología cualitativa la entrevista en profundidad. Participaron 20 personas con el diagnóstico ya mencionado. Se realizó el análisis correspondiente de la técnica utilizada, y culminó con la triangulación de la información de bibliografía actualizada y análisis multidisciplinario. Los aspectos éticos fueron bien establecidos y aplicados. RESULTADOS: alrededor de la mitad de los sujetos abandonaron los servicios de salud por decepción y desesperanza. Fueron identificadas iatrogenias en la gestión médica y paramédica. El proceso de medicalización se expresó en el discurso y en los procedimientos e intervenciones médicas implementadas. La relación médico-paciente fue muy importante en la vida de una mayoría, sin embargo la naturaleza de la relación fue vertical y unidireccional, caracterizada por el secreto médico y parental. Las vivencias de alienación se relacionaron con el rol desempeñado en el espacio institucional y con el desequilibrio de poder en la relación con el proveedor de salud. CONCLUSIONES: existen deficiencias en el modelo de atención. Se hallaron brechas entre los servicios ofrecidos y las necesidades y expectativas personales de atención de salud. El algoritmo que pauta la conducta a seguir no ha logrado la atención integral por el equipo interdisciplinario, ni el acompañamiento psicológico a la familia desde los primeros momentos del diagnóstico. Un nuevo paradigma de atención de salud debe ser privilegiado.INTRODUCTION: the approach and clinical treatments of intersexuality is a complex and deep subject, it is also a field characterized by debates and controversies where still there are features to be elucidate in relation to current paradigm of health care. The prescription of surgical and hormonal therapies from early stages of life is regulated acquiring special relevance the experiences and situations related to the health services. OBJECTIVES: to describe the experiences of persons diagnosed with sexual development disorders in health services and from their perspective, to characterize the relation physician-patient and the health care form. METHODS: present study uses as qualitative methodology the interview intimately and included 20 persons with the abovementioned diagnosis. The corresponding analysis of the technique used was carried out finishing with the triangulation of updated bibliography information and a multidisciplinary analysis. Ethical features were well established and applied. RESULTS: around the half of subjects gave up the health services due to disappointment and hopelessness. In medical and paramedical actions a iatrogenesis was identified. The medicine process was expressed in the speech and in the applied medical procedures and interventions. The relation physician-patient was very significant in the life of many persons, however, the relation nature was vertical and unidirectional, characterized by the medical and family secret. The alienation experiences were related to the role played in the institutional environment and to the power lack of balance in the relation with the health provider. CONCLUSIONS: there are deficiencies in care form and breaches among the services offered and the personal needs and expectations of health care. The algorithm giving guidelines for the behavior to follow neither has achieve the integral attention for the interdisciplinary team nor the psychological support to family from the firsts moments of diagnosis. A new health care paradigm must to be exceptional.

INTRODUCCIÓN: la hiperplasia adrenal congénita es un trastorno hereditario de la esteroidogénesis suprarrenal, trasmitido por mutaciones genéticas con carácter autosómico recesivo, las cuales afectan las enzimas que intervienen en la biosíntesis del cortisol. La causa la constituye en 90 a 95 % de los casos la deficiencia de la enzima 21 hidroxilasa. OBJETIVO: exponer la experiencia de los autores de este trabajo en la forma no clásica de esta enfermedad. MÉTODOS: se realizó la caracterización de 7 pacientes diagnosticados en la sala de endocrinología pediátrica del Instituto Nacional de Endocrinología, ubicada en el Hospital Pediátrico del Cerro, durante el período 1998-2008. Todos los pacientes pertenecían al sexo femenino. RESULTADOS: los síntomas se iniciaron a una edad promedio de 8,8 años y más de la mitad de los casos presentaron pubarquia precoz. La menarquia se produjo a una edad media de 10,7 años. Se logró el diagnóstico bioquímico al obtenerse valores elevados de 17 hidroxiprogesterona (en condiciones basales). Se emplearon distintas modalidades de tratamiento según la edad de cada paciente y los síntomas predominantes en cada caso. CONCLUSIONES: se corroboró la mayor frecuencia de diagnóstico de esta enfermedad en el sexo femenino, así como la importancia del estudio y el seguimiento ante un paciente con pubarquia precoz.INTRODUCTION: the congenital adrenal hyperplasia is an inherited disorder of suprarenal esteroidogenesis, transmitted by genetic mutations with a autosomal recessive character affecting the enzymes intervening in cortisol biosynthesis. In the 90 to 95% of cases, the cause is a deficiency of Hydroxylase enzyme 21. OBJECTIVE: to show the current paper authors' experience in the non-classic way of this entity. METHODS: we made a characterization of 7 female patients diagnosed in the Children Endocrinology Ward of the National Institute of Endocrinology located in the Children Hospital, Cerro municipality during 1998-2008. RESULTS: symptoms started at a mean age of 8,8 years and more the a half of cases had an early pubarche. Menarche appeared at a mean age of 19,7 years. We made a biochemical diagnosis achieving higher values of 17 hydroxyprogesterone (in basal conditions). Different treatment modalities were used according to each patient and predominant symptoms in each case. CONCLUSIONS: we verified the great frequency of this entity in female sex, as well as the study and follow-up significance in face of a patient presenting early pubarche.

Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de tipo analítico, en el Hospital Docente Pediátrico del Cerro, en un período de 10 años, del 15 de enero de 1989 al 15 de enero de 1999, con el objetivo de identificar el comportamiento de las alteraciones en la maduración ósea y el crecimiento en niños con diabetes mellitus insulinodependiente, y determinar la relación entre los factores seleccionados. El universo estuvo conformado por todos los niños diabéticos insulinodependientes atendidos en el servicio, quedando constituida la muestra por 45 pacientes. Las variables seleccionadas fueron: edad al inicio de la enfermedad, tiempo de evolución, esquema terapéutico, dosis de insulina, y control metabólico. Se detectó que el 82,2 % de lo niños estudiados no presentaron ninguna afectación, mientras que el 15,6 % presentó afectación en la maduración y el 2,2 % en la maduración y el crecimiento. No se diagnosticó ningún caso con afectación solamente en el crecimiento. Las variables que mostraron relación fueron la edad de inicio de la enfermedad menor de 5 años, tiempo de evolución de más de 10 años, esquemas inadecuados, dosis de insulina insuficiente y mal control metabólico. El comportamiento de las alteraciones en la maduración ósea y el crecimiento fueron poco frecuentes, coincidiendo con los datos de la literatura revisada, que incluye a estas complicaciones como excepcionales.The authors made a retrospective and analytical study in the Children Teaching Hospital of Cerro Municipality, from January 15, 1989, to January 15, 1999, to identify the behaviour of the alterations in bone maturation and growth in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus children, and to determine the relation among the selected factors. The group was composed of all insulin-dependent sick children seen in our service. The sample included 45 patients. The selected variables were: age at onset of the disease, evolution time, therapeutical scheme, insulin dose and metabolic control. It was oberved that 82,2 % of the studied children had no alterations, while 15,6 % had problems with maturation and 2,2 % in both, maturation and growth. There was not any case with alteration only in growth. The related variables were: age at onset of the disease of less than 5 years, evolution time of more than 10 years, unsuitable schemes, insufficient insulin dose and a poor metabolic control. The alterations in bone maturation and growth were not frequent, coinciding with the data found in the reviewed literature, where these complications are included as something exceptional.

Cerebellar ataxias include a heterogeneous group of infrequent diseases characterized by lack of motor coordination caused by disturbances in the cerebellum and its associated circuits. Current therapies are based on the use of drugs that correct some of the molecular processes involved in their pathogenesis. Although these treatments yielded promising results, there is not yet an effective therapy for these diseases. Cell replacement strategies using human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (HuUCBMCs) have emerged as a promising approach for restoration of function in neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this work was to investigate the potential therapeutic activity of HuUCBMCs in the 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP) rat model of cerebellar ataxia. Intravenous administered HuUCBMCs reached the cerebellum and brain stem of 3-AP ataxic rats. Grafted cells reduced 3-AP-induced neuronal loss promoted the activation of microglia in the brain stem, and prevented the overexpression of GFAP elicited by 3-AP in the cerebellum. In addition, HuUCBMCs upregulated the expression of proteins that are critical for cell survival, such as phospho-Akt and Bcl-2, in the cerebellum and brain stem of 3-AP ataxic rats. As all these effects were accompanied by a temporal but significant improvement in motor coordination, HuUCBMCs grafts can be considered as an effective cell replacement therapy for cerebellar disorders.

Sera from patients infected with Taenia solium, Hymenolepis nana and Echinococcus granulosus were tested against homologous and heterologous parasite antigens using an ELISA assay, and a high degree of cross-reactivity was verified. To identify polypeptides responsible for this cross reactivity, the Enzyme Linked Immunoelectro Transfer Blot (EITB) was used. Sera from infected patients with T.solium, H.nana, and E.granulosus were assessed against crude, ammonium sulphate precipitated (TSASP), and lentil-lectin purified antigens of T.solium and crude antigens of.H.nana and E.granulosus. Several bands, recognized by sera from patients with T.solium, H.nana, and E.granulosus infections, were common to either two or all three cestodes. Unique reactive bands in H.nana were noted at 49 and 66 K-Da and in E.granulosus at 17-21 K-Da and at 27-32 K-Da. In the crude cysticercosis extract, a specific non glycoprotein band was present at 61-67 K-Da in addiction to specific glycoprotein bands of 50, 42, 24, 21, 18, 14, and 13 K-Da. None of the sera from patients with H.nana or E.granulosus infection cross reacted with these seven glycoprotein bands considered specific for T.solium infection.Soros de pacientes infectados com Taenia solium, Hymenolepis nana e Echinococcus granulosus foram testados contra antígenos parasitários homólogos e heterólogos usando o teste de ELISA e foi verificado alto grau de reatividade cruzada. Para identificar os polipetídeos responsáveis por esta reatividade cruzada foi utilizado o teste "Enzyme Linked Immunoelectro Transfer Blot (EITB)". Soros de pacientes infectados por T.solium, H.nana, e E.granulosus foram colocados em contato com precipitado de sulfato de amônia e antígenos não purificados de T.solium e os de H.nana e E.granulosus. Várias bandas reconhecidas pelos soros de pacientes com infecção por T.solium, H.nana e E.granulosus foram comuns a dois ou três destes cestódeos. Uma única banda foi notada em H.nana a 49 e 66K-Da e no E.granulosus a 17-21 K-Da e 27-32 K-Da. No extrato não purificado de cisticercose uma banda específica não glicoproteica estava presente a 61-67 K-Da além das bandas de glicoproteínas específicas de 50, 42, 24, 21, 18, 14 e 13 K-Da. Nenhum destes soros de pacientes com infecção por H.nana ou E.granulosus reagiu de forma cruzada com estas sete bandas de glicoproteína consideradas específicas à infecção por T.solium

El déficit de hormona de crecimiento (GH) aislado es una afección de naturaleza congénita o adquirida que se caracteriza por la ausencia parcial o total de hormona de crecimiento detectable en plasma o suero. Se presenta un paciente de 11 años, blanco, masculino, quien asiste a consulta por retraso marcado del crecimiento y desarrollo, con talla/edad correspondiente a 4,4 años y cifras de GH en pruebas farmacológicas que no superan los 10 ng/mL. El resto del estudio hormonal está dentro de los parámetros normales. Se comprueba en la madre baja talla y el estudio hormonal muestra similares resultados. La búsqueda de individuos de baja talla en la familia muestra iguales características en abuela y bisabuela maternas. Se diagnostica como un déficit aislado de GH de tipo familiar, tipo II, con patrón de herencia autosómica dominante. Se indica tratamiento con hormona de crecimiento biosintética con resultados satisfactorios. Se concluye que el estudio de la genealogía de un caso índice permite dilucidar la presencia de otros sujetos afectos y establecer los patrones de transmisión de la enfermedad genética.The isolated GH deficiency is an affection of congenital or acquired nature characterised by the partial or total absence of GH detectable in plasma or serum. It is reported the case of an 11-year-old white male patient that received medical attention due to a marked delay of growth and development with height/age corresponding to 4.4 years old and GH figures that were not over 10 ng/mL in pharmacological tests. The rest of the hormonal study was within the normal parameters. Low height was observed in the mother and the hormonal study had similar results. The search for low height individuals in the family showed the same characteristics in the maternal grandmother and great-grandmother. A familial isolated GH deficiency type II with pattern of autosomal dominant inheritance was diagnosed. Treatment with biosynthetic growth hormone was indicated with satisfactory results. It was concluded that the study of genealogy of an index case allows to explain the presence of other affected subjects and to establish the patterns of transmission of the genetic disease

La hipoglucemia facticia es un atentado deliberado para provocar niveles séricos bajos de glucosa con el uso de insulina o de agentes hipoglucemiantes orales. Paciente JCB, masculino, 12 años, blanco, diabético tipo 1 de 2 años de evolución. Motivo de consulta: episodios de hipoglucemia severa con convulsiones y coma. Se tomaron muestras para anticuerpos antiislotes pancreáticos (ICA) y péptido C en condiciones basales y durante la hipoglucemia, así como determinaciones de hemoglobina glucosilada (HBA1) durante la evolución de la enfermedad, ultrasonografía, tomografía axial computadorizada (TAC) y resonancia magnética nuclear (RMN) de páncreas. Se obtuvieron insulinemias elevadas, valores extremadamente disminuidos de peptinemia C, incremento del índice de masa corporal y función renal y hepática dentro de parámetros normales. Los estudios imagenológicos fueron normales. Se concluye que a pesar de la relativa baja frecuencia de la hipoglucemia facticia en el diabético, es imprescindible tenerla en cuenta. La detección precoz facilita la atención psicológica temprana del paciente y previene la exposición a acciones que impliquen riesgo para la vida o daño permanente.Factitious hypoglycaemia is a deliberate attempt to provoke low serum levels of glucose by using insulin or lowering-glycaemia agents. A case is reported of a white, male, 12-year-old type 1 diabetic patient of 2 years of evolution. Chief complaint: episodes of severe hypoglycaemia with convulsions and coma. Samples for pancreatic anti-islet cell antibodies and peptide C were taken under basal conditions and during hypoglycaemia. Determinations of glucosylated haemoglobin (HBA1) during the evolution of the disease, ultrasonography, CAT and nuclear magnetic imaging of pancreas were performed. Elevated insulinemias, extremely reduced values of peptinemia C, increase of the body mass index, and renal and hepatic function within the normal parameters were obtained. The imaging studies were normal. It was concluded that in spite of the relative low frequency of factitious hypoglycemia in the diabetic, it is indispensable to take it into account. The premature detection makes easy the early psychological attention of the patient and prevents the exposure to actions implying risk for life or permanent damage.