Red blood cells morphology and morphometry in adult, senior, and geriatricians dogs by optical and scanning electron microscopy.

Red blood cells (RBC) morphologic evaluation through microscopy optical (OM) and SEM, provides information to forecast, evaluate, and monitor the functioning of many organs. Factors, such aging and diseases affect RBC morphology in both, human and animals. SEM is useful to evaluate RBC morphology, although its use in diagnosis and evaluation in dogs is limited, due to the availability and cost. The aim of this research was to assess the normal RBC morphology in adult, senior and geriatrician dogs, clinically healthy by OM and SEM. In addition to evaluating the age effect, sex, body size, and their interaction on erythrocyte morphometry. To carry out the research 152 blood samples were evaluated from dogs of different sexes and body sizes (small, medium, and large). Three groups were made based on dogs age: group I adults (1-7.9 years old), group II senior (8-11.9 years old), and group III geriatricians (>12 years old). Erythrocyte parameters were evaluated by OM (diameter, height, and axial ratio). Per each dog, the parameters of 20 erythrocytes were measured. A total of 2,600 cells were scanned with the AmScope™ Software scale. In addition, the RBC morphology was evaluated by SEM. Statistical analyses used analysis of variance and a general linear model, which allows the comparison of multiple factors at two or more levels (p < 0.05). The results of this study showed that diameter and height were lower in adult dogs than in senior and geriatrician dogs (p < 0.05). Whereas, sex, body size, and the interaction did not show a significant effect (p > 0.05). Additionally, some images of anisocytosis, polychromasia, and poikilocytosis (echinocytes, acanthocytes, codocytes, spherocytes, stomatocytes, dacryocytes quatrefoil, and elliptocytes) were obtained by OM and SEM. Our study provides information about the morphological and morphometry alterations of adult, senior, and geriatrician dogs RBC. This work contributes to future investigations and the diagnosing diseases, where it is necessary to evaluate the morphology of RBC.

Effect of age, sex, and body size on the blood biochemistry and physiological constants of dogs from 4 wk. to > 52 wk. of age.

BACKGROUND: Blood biochemistry and reference intervals help to differentiate between healthy and ill dogs as well as to provide information for the prognosis, evaluation, and monitoring; however, these intervals are often obtained from adult animals. It is essential to understand that puppies and adults are physiologically different, which justifies the need to obtain age-specific biochemical reference intervals. The aim of this research was to assess the potential effect of age, sex, body size, and their interaction on routine biochemical analytes and physiological constants (body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate). To carry out the research, we selected 197 healthy dogs of both sexes and different body sizes (small, medium and large) classified by age: group I (4-8 wk), group II (9-24 wk), group III (25-52 wk), and group IV (> 52 wk). The biochemical analysis included the measurement of the enzymatic activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, total proteins, albumin, globulins, glucose, urea, and creatinine. Statistical analyses used analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a general linear model (GLM), which allows the comparison of multiple factors at two or more levels (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The results of this study showed that ALT, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, creatinine, and body temperature levels were lower in puppies than in adult dogs of group IV (p < 0.05), while the enzymatic activity of ALP, LDH, glucose concentration, and heart rate were higher. Whereas sex, body size and the interaction did not show a significant effect (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Some biochemical components are influenced by age. For this reason, this manuscript contributes with additional data for the clinical interpretation of blood biochemical results in puppies.

Estado nutricional de adolescentes pertenecientes a una cohorte de niños nacidos prematuros / Nutritional status of adolescents from a cohort of preterm children

Introducción: La recuperación del crecimiento de los niños prematuros se presenta en los primeros meses de vida y se termina en la adolescencia. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar el crecimiento y desarrollo de una cohorte de adolescentes nacidos prematuros (1995-1996), en las ciudades de Chillán y San Carlos, Región del Biobío, Chile. Sujetos y método: Para el estudio se logró reclutar a 91 adolescentes de la cohorte original, lo que corresponde al 54%, y se incluyeron 91 controles adolescentes nacidos de término (ANT). Se evaluó el estado nutricional por índice de masa corporal para la edad y talla para la edad; composición corporal a través de pliegues cutáneos, riesgo cardiovascular por la presión arterial y circunferencia de cintura. Resultados: El 23,0% de adolescentes nacidos prematuros y el 24,1% de ANT tenía malnutrición por exceso, el 25,5% de los prematuros pequeños para la edad gestacional se encontraban con exceso de peso y el 14,5% de los adecuados para la edad gestacional. Presentaron talla baja un 16,5% de los adolescentes nacidos prematuros versus 5,5% de los ANT, encontrándose mayor proporción en mujeres (p < 0,04). Los adolescentes nacidos prematuros tenían más masa grasa que sus controles, en especial en el pliegue suprailíaco. No hubo diferencias significativas en la presión arterial ni en la circunferencia de cintura. Conclusiones: Los resultados indican que existe un grupo de adolescentes nacidos prematuros que no recupera la talla en la adolescencia, especialmente en las mujeres.

Introduction: Catch-up growth in preterm-born children occurs in the first months of life, but in some cases, growth recovery takes place in adolescence. The objective of this study was to study the growth and development of preterm-born adolescents from a cohort of preterm infants born between 1995 and 1996, who resided in the cities of Chillán and San Carlos in the Biobío Region, Chile. The results were then compared with term-born adolescents. Subjects and method: A sample of 91 children from the cohort was studied and compared with 91 term-born adolescents matched for gender, age, and attendance at the same educational institution. The nutritional status was assessed by BMI-for-age, height-for-age, body composition by skinfold, cardiovascular risk due to blood pressure, and waist circumference. Results: There was 23.0% and 24.1% overweight and obesity in preterm-born and term-born adolescents, respectively, with 25.5% of preterm-born and small for gestational age adolescents vs. 14.5% of those born adequate for gestational age were overweight. Lower height was observed in 16.5% and 5.5% of the preterm-born and term-born adolescents, respectively, and with a higher proportion of girls (P < .04). Preterm-born adolescents had a more fat mass than the controls, particularly in the suprailiac skinfold. No significant differences were found in blood pressure and waist circumference. Conclusions: The results indicate that there is a group of preterm-born children who do not recover height during adolescence, especially girls.

[Nutritional status of adolescents from a cohort of preterm children]. / Estado nutricional de adolescentes pertenecientes a una cohorte de niños nacidos prematuros.

INTRODUCTION: Catch-up growth in preterm-born children occurs in the first months of life, but in some cases, growth recovery takes place in adolescence. The objective of this study was to study the growth and development of preterm-born adolescents from a cohort of preterm infants born between 1995 and 1996, who resided in the cities of Chillán and San Carlos in the Biobío Region, Chile. The results were then compared with term-born adolescents. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A sample of 91 children from the cohort was studied and compared with 91 term-born adolescents matched for gender, age, and attendance at the same educational institution. The nutritional status was assessed by BMI-for-age, height-for-age, body composition by skinfold, cardiovascular risk due to blood pressure, and waist circumference. RESULTS: There was 23.0% and 24.1% overweight and obesity in preterm-born and term-born adolescents, respectively, with 25.5% of preterm-born and small for gestational age adolescents vs. 14.5% of those born adequate for gestational age were overweight. Lower height was observed in 16.5% and 5.5% of the preterm-born and term-born adolescents, respectively, and with a higher proportion of girls (P<.04). Preterm-born adolescents had a more fat mass than the controls, particularly in the suprailiac skinfold. No significant differences were found in blood pressure and waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that there is a group of preterm-born children who do not recover height during adolescence, especially girls.

Educación por competencias: implicancias para el pregrado de medicina / Competence- based education: implications for undergraduate medical education

La educación médica por competencias, planteada hace ya varios años, ha resurgido como un modelo de enseñanza-aprendizaje que explicita y destaca la evaluación de resultados educacionales como el eje central de acción con estudiantes y pacientes. En este artículo se actualizan algunas definiciones de competencia desde la perspectiva de la educación médica, se analizan las fortalezas potenciales de la educación por competencias y se describen ejemplos de algunos modelos empleados en otras latitudes. A continuación se propone una clasificación operacional de las competencias que ha servido para comenzar a analizar la enseñanza por competencias en el pregrado de Medicina, aspectos relacionados a la planificación general e implementación. Finalmente, se hace un breve análisis desde esta perspectiva de la situación actual del currículo de la Escuela de Medicina de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Competence-based medical education, described several years ago, has re-arisen as a model of teaching and learning that remarks and emphasizes the evaluation of educational outcomes as the backbone of action with students and patients. In this article, some definitions of competence are updated from the perspective of the medical education as well as potential strengths of competence-based education and curricular models used in other latitudes, are analyzed. Then, we propose an operational classification for competences, which could be used in our Medical School for development, implementation and follow up of competences at different levels in the undergraduate medical education at our Medical School. Finally, a brief analysis is done from the perspective of current curricular development at our School of Medicine.