ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of coeliac disease (CD) in adults is based on clinical, serological and histological criteria. The inappropriate performance of intestinal biopsies, non-specificity of mild histological lesions and initiation of a gluten-free diet (GFD) before biopsy may hamper the diagnosis. In these situations, determining the intraepithelial lymphogram of the duodenum by flow cytometry (IEL-FC) can be helpful. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical scenarios in which the IEL-FC is used and its impact on the diagnosis of CD. METHODS: All adult patients with suspected CD at three tertiary centres for whom the duodenal histology and IEL-FC were available were identified. Catassi and Fasano's diagnostic criteria and changes to a CD diagnosis after the IEL-FCs were collected. RESULTS: A total of 348 patients were included. The following indications for an IEL-FC formed part of the initial study for CD (38%): negative conventional work-up (32%), already on a GFD before duodenal biopsies (29%) and refractoriness to a GFD (2%). The IEL-FC facilitated a definitive diagnosis in 93% of patients with an uncertain diagnosis who had had a conventional work-up for CD or who were on a GFD before histology. CONCLUSIONS: The IEL-FC facilitates the confirmation or rejection of a diagnosis of CD in clinical scenarios in which a conventional work-up may be insufficient.
Subject(s)
Celiac Disease , Duodenum , Flow Cytometry , Immunophenotyping , Intraepithelial Lymphocytes , Celiac Disease/diagnosis , Celiac Disease/diet therapy , Celiac Disease/immunology , Humans , Female , Male , Adult , Immunophenotyping/methods , Middle Aged , Duodenum/pathology , Flow Cytometry/methods , Intraepithelial Lymphocytes/immunology , Biopsy , Aged , Young Adult , Diet, Gluten-FreeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The recommended schedule for single capsule bismuth quadruple therapy (scBQT, Pylera) includes a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) two times a day and three scBQT capsules four times a day. Four times a day treatments are inconvenient and reduce adherence. In contrast, adherence improves with three times a day schedules. In clinical practice, many gastroenterologists use four capsule scBQT three times a day. However, the effectiveness and safety of this latter approach remain uncertain. AIM: To assess the effectiveness and safety of scBQT administered three times a day in the patients included in the European Registry on Helicobacter pylori Management (Hp-EuReg). METHODS: All Spanish adult patients registered in the Asociación Española de Gastroenterología Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) database from June 2013 to March 2021 receiving 10-day scBQT were analysed. Modified intention-to-treat effectiveness, adherence and the safety of scBQT given three times a day were calculated and compared with the four times a day schedule. A multivariate analysis was performed to determine independent factors predicting cure of the infection. RESULTS: Of the 3712 cases, 2516 (68%) were four times a day and 1196 (32%) three times a day. Mean age was 51 years, 63% were women and 15% had a peptic ulcer. The three times a day schedule showed significantly better overall cure rates than four times a day (1047/1112, 94%; 95% CI 92.7 to 95.6 vs 2207/2423, 91%; 95% CI 89.9 to 92.2, respectively, p=0.002). Adherence and safety data were similar for both regimens. In the multivariate analysis, three times a day dosage, first-line therapy, use of standard or high-dose PPIs and adherence over 90% were significantly associated with cure of the infection. CONCLUSIONS: ScBQT prescribed three times a day was more effective than the traditional four times a day schedule. No differences were observed in treatment adherence or safety.
Subject(s)
Helicobacter Infections , Helicobacter pylori , Adult , Humans , Female , Middle Aged , Male , Bismuth/adverse effects , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy , Drug Therapy, Combination , Metronidazole/therapeutic use , Proton Pump Inhibitors , Registries , Amoxicillin/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Individuals with orofacial clefting (OFC) have a higher prevalence of tooth agenesis (TA) overall. Neither the precise etiology of TA, nor whether TA occurs in patterns that differ by gender or cleft type is yet known. This meta-analysis aims to identify the spectrum of tooth agenesis patterns in subjects with non-syndromic OFC and controls using the Tooth Agenesis Code (TAC) program. An indexed search of databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL) along with cross-referencing and hand searches were completed from May to June 2019 and re-run in February 2022. Additionally, unpublished TAC data from 914 individuals with OFC and 932 controls were included. TAC pattern frequencies per study were analyzed using a random effects meta-analysis model. A thorough review of 45 records retrieved resulted in 4 articles meeting eligibility criteria, comprising 2182 subjects with OFC and 3171 controls. No TA (0.0.0.0) was seen in 51% of OFC cases and 97% of controls. TAC patterns 0.2.0.0, 2.0.0.0, and 2.2.0.0 indicating uni- or bi-lateral missing upper laterals, and 16.0.0.0 indicating missing upper right second premolar, were more common in subjects with OFC. Subjects with OFC have unique TA patterns and defining these patterns will help increase our understanding of the complex etiology underlying TA.
ABSTRACT
Children with orofacial clefting (OFC) present with a wide range of dental anomalies. Identifying these anomalies is vital to understand their etiology and to discern the complex phenotypic spectrum of OFC. Such anomalies are currently identified using intra-oral exams by dentists, a costly and time-consuming process. We claim that automating the process of anomaly detection using deep neural networks (DNNs) could increase efficiency and provide reliable anomaly detection while potentially increasing the speed of research discovery. This study characterizes the use of` DNNs to identify dental anomalies by training a DNN model using intraoral photographs from the largest international cohort to date of children with nonsyndromic OFC and controls (OFC1). In this project, the intraoral images were submitted to a Convolutional Neural Network model to perform multi-label multi-class classification of 10 dental anomalies. The network predicts whether an individual exhibits any of the 10 anomalies and can do so significantly faster than a human rater can. For all but three anomalies, F1 scores suggest that our model performs competitively at anomaly detection when compared to a dentist with 8 years of clinical experience. In addition, we use saliency maps to provide a post-hoc interpretation for our model's predictions. This enables dentists to examine and verify our model's predictions.
Subject(s)
Deep Learning , Child , Cohort Studies , Humans , Neural Networks, Computer , Photography, DentalABSTRACT
Enamel hypoplasia causes reduction in the thickness of affected enamel and is one of the most common dental anomalies. This defect is caused by environmental and/or genetic factors that interfere with tooth formation, emphasizing the importance of investigating enamel hypoplasia on an epidemiological and genetic level. A genome-wide association of enamel hypoplasia was performed in multiple cohorts, overall comprising 7,159 individuals ranging in age from 7-82 years. Mixed-models were used to test for genetic association while simultaneously accounting for relatedness and genetic population structure. Meta-analysis was then performed. More than 5 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms were tested in individual cohorts. Analyses of the individual cohorts and meta-analysis identified association signals close to genome-wide significance (P < 5ï´10-8), and many suggestive association signals (5ï´10-8 < P < 5ï´10-6) near genes with plausible roles in tooth/enamel development. The strongest association signal (P = 1.57ï´10-9) was observed near BMP2K in one of the individual cohorts. Additional suggestive signals were observed near genes with plausible roles in tooth development in the meta-analysis, such as SLC4A4 which can influence enamel hypoplasia. Additional human genetic studies are needed to replicate these results and functional studies in model systems are needed to validate our findings.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Modern human palate shape has been reported to vary by sex and ancestry, but limitations in the methods used to quantify shape and in population coverage have led to inconsistent findings. In the present study, the authors aim to characterize the effects of sex and ancestry on normal-range three-dimensional palate shape through landmark-based morphometrics.Three-dimensional digital dental casts were obtained and landmarked from 794 adults of European (nâ=â429), African (nâ=â295), and East Asian (nâ=â70) ancestry. Principal component analysis was conducted to identify patterns of shape variation present in our cohort, and canonical variates analysis was performed to test for shape differences between sexes and ancestries.Principal component analysis showed that 3 principal components, explaining 76.52% of variance, linked higher palatal vault with either a relative reduction in anteroposterior or mediolateral dimensions. Canonical variates analysis showed that males had wider and shorter palates with more posteriorly located maximum vault depth than females. Individuals of African ancestry, having higher vaults with more posteriorly located maximal depths, also had wider and shorter palates, whereas individuals of European ancestry had narrower and longer palates with more anteriorly located maximum vault depths. Individuals of East Asian ancestry showed the shallowest vaults.It was found that both sex and ancestry influence palate shape, suggesting a possible genetic component underlying this variation. Additionally, our findings indicate that vault height tends to co-vary with anteroposterior or mediolateral dimensions. Further investigation of these morphological patterns may shed light on possible links to common congenital anomalies such as orofacial clefting.
Subject(s)
Palate , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Principal Component AnalysisABSTRACT
Odontogenesis is a complex process, where disruption can result in dental anomalies and/or increase the risk of developing dental caries. Based on previous studies, certain dental anomalies tend to co-occur in patients, suggesting that these traits may share common genetic and etiological components. The main goal of this study was to implement a multivariate genome-wide association study approach to identify genetic variants shared between correlated structural dental anomalies and dental caries. Our cohort (N = 3,579) was derived from the Pittsburgh Orofacial Clefts Study, where multiple dental traits were assessed in both the unaffected relatives of orofacial cleft (OFC) cases (n = 2,187) and unaffected controls (n = 1,392). We identified four multivariate patterns of correlated traits in this data: tooth agenesis, impaction, and rotation (AIR); enamel hypoplasia, displacement, and rotation (HDR); displacement, rotation, and mamelon (DRM); and dental caries, tooth agenesis and enamel hypoplasia (CAH). We analyzed each of these four models using genome-wide multivariate tests of association. No genome-wide statistically significant results were found, but we identified multiple suggestive association signals (P < 10-5) near genes with known biological roles during tooth development, including ADAMTS9 and PRICKLE2 associated with AIR; GLIS3, WDR72, and ROR2 associated with HDR and DRM; ROBO2 associated with DRM; BMP7 associated with HDR; and ROBO1, SMAD2, and MSX2 associated with CAH. This is the first study to investigate genetic associations for multivariate patterns of correlated dental anomalies and dental caries. Further studies are needed to replicate these results in independent cohorts.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The unaffected relatives of individuals with nonsyndromic orofacial clefts have been shown to exhibit subtle craniofacial differences compared with the general population. Here, we investigate whether these morphological differences extend to the shape of the palate. DESIGN: We conducted a geometric morphometric analysis to compare palate shape in the clinically unaffected parents of children with nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate and adult controls of European, Asian, and African ancestry. We conducted pairwise group comparisons using canonical variates analysis, and then confirmed and characterized findings of shape differences using Euclidean distance matrix analysis. RESULTS: Significant differences in palate shape were detected in unaffected mothers (but not fathers) compared to demographically matched controls. The differences in shape were ancestry-specific; mothers of Asian-derived and African-derived ancestry showed wider and shorter palates with higher posterior palatal vaults, while mothers of European-derived ancestry showed narrower palates with higher anterior palatal vaults. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that altered palate shape is a subclinical phenotypic feature, which may be indicative of elevated orofacial cleft risk. The risk phenotype varied by sex and ancestry, suggesting possible etiologic heterogeneity among demographic groups. Understanding the genetic basis of these informative palate shape traits may reveal new genes and pathways relevant to nonsyndromic orofacial clefting.
Subject(s)
Cleft Lip , Cleft Palate , Adult , Cephalometry , Child , Cleft Lip/genetics , Cleft Palate/genetics , Female , Humans , Male , ParentsABSTRACT
Nonsyndromic orofacial clefts are a common complex birth defect caused by genetic and environmental factors and/or their interactions. A previous genome-wide linkage scan discovered a novel locus for cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) at 9q22-q33. To identify the etiologic gene, we undertook an iterative and complementary fine mapping strategy using family-based CL/P samples from Colombia, USA and the Philippines. Candidate genes within 9q22-q33 were sequenced, revealing 32 new variants. Concurrently, 397 SNPs spanning the 9q22-q33 2-LOD-unit interval were tested for association. Significant SNP and haplotype association signals (P = 1.45E - 08) narrowed the interval to a 200 kb region containing: FOXE1, C9ORF156 and HEMGN. Association results were replicated in CL/P families of European descent and when all populations were combined the two most associated SNPs, rs3758249 (P = 5.01E - 13) and rs4460498 (P = 6.51E - 12), were located inside a 70 kb high linkage disequilibrium block containing FOXE1. Association signals for Caucasians and Asians clustered 5' and 3' of FOXE1, respectively. Isolated cleft palate (CP) was also associated, indicating that FOXE1 plays a role in two phenotypes thought to be genetically distinct. Foxe1 expression was found in the epithelium undergoing fusion between the medial nasal and maxillary processes. Mutation screens of FOXE1 identified two family-specific missense mutations at highly conserved amino acids. These data indicate that FOXE1 is a major gene for CL/P and provides new insights for improved counseling and genetic interaction studies.
Subject(s)
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9/genetics , Cleft Lip/genetics , Cleft Palate/genetics , Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics , Chromosome Mapping , Haplotypes , Humans , Lod ScoreABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Non-syndromic orofacial clefts, i.e. cleft lip (CL) and cleft palate (CP), are among the most common birth defects. The goal of this study was to identify genomic regions and genes for CL with or without CP (CL/P). METHODS: We performed linkage analyses of a 10 cM genome scan in 820 multiplex CL/P families (6,565 individuals). Significant linkage results were followed by association analyses of 1,476 SNPs in candidate genes and regions, utilizing a weighted false discovery rate (wFDR) approach to control for multiple testing and incorporate the genome scan results. RESULTS: Significant (multipoint HLOD >or=3.2) or genome-wide-significant (HLOD >or=4.02) linkage results were found for regions 1q32, 2p13, 3q27-28, 9q21, 12p11, 14q21-24 and 16q24. SNPs in IRF6 (1q32) and in or near FOXE1 (9q21) reached formal genome-wide wFDR-adjusted significance. Further, results were phenotype dependent in that the IRF6 region results were most significant for families in which affected individuals have CL alone, and the FOXE1 region results were most significant in families in which some or all of the affected individuals have CL with CP. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the importance of careful phenotypic delineation in large samples of families for genetic analyses of complex, heterogeneous traits such as CL/P.
Subject(s)
Cleft Lip/genetics , Cleft Palate/genetics , Genetic Linkage , Genome, Human , Genome-Wide Association Study , Chromosome Mapping , Chromosomes, Human/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Humans , Phenotype , Polymorphism, Single NucleotideABSTRACT
Plasma exchange (PE) with plasma infusion is the treatment of choice for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) but doubts remain as to whether all kinds of plasma are equally effective. A multicentric cohort study was conducted to compare methylene blue-photoinactivated plasma (MBPIP) with quarantine fresh frozen plasma (qFFP) in the treatment of TTP. One hundred and two episodes of idiopathic TTP were included; MBPIP was used in 63 and qFFP in 39. The treatment schedule consisted of daily PE and costicosteroids, and the main end-point was remission status on day 8. Patients treated with MBPIP required more PEs (median: 11 vs. 5, P = 0.002) and a larger volume of plasma (median: 485 ml/kg vs. 216 ml/kg, P = 0.007) to achieve a remission, and presented more recrudescences while on PE therapy (29 of 63 vs. 8 of 39, P = 0.02) than those receiving qFFP. After adjustment for possible confounding factors, the use of MBPIP was associated with a lower likelihood of remission on day 8 [Odds ratio (OR): 0.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.06-0.47] and a higher risk of recrudescence while on treatment (OR: 4.2; 95% CI: 1.6-10.8). In conclusion, MBPIP is less effective than qFFP in the treatment of TTP.
Subject(s)
Light , Methylene Blue/pharmacology , Plasma Exchange/methods , Plasma , Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Plasma/drug effects , Plasma/radiation effects , Prospective Studies , Remission Induction , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCLP) results from the complex interaction between genes and environmental factors. Candidate gene analysis and genome scans have been employed to identify the genes contributing to NSCLP. In this study, we evaluated the 16q24.1 chromosomal region, which has been identified by multiple genome scans as an NSCLP region of interest. Two candidate genes were found in the region: interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) and cysteine-rich secretory protein LCCL domain containing 2 (CRISPLD2). Initially, Caucasian and Hispanic NSCLP multiplex families and simplex parent-child trios were genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in both IRF8 and CRISPLD2. CRISPLD2 was subsequently genotyped in a data set comprised of NSCLP families from Colombia, South America. Linkage disequilibrium analysis identified a significant association between CRISPLD2 and NSCLP in both our Caucasian and Hispanic NSCLP cohorts. SNP rs1546124 and haplotypes between rs1546124 and either rs4783099 or rs16974880 were significant in the Caucasian multiplex population (P=0.01, P=0.002 and P=0.001, respectively). An altered transmission of CRISPLD2 SNPs rs8061351 (P=0.02) and rs2326398 (P=0.06) was detected in the Hispanic population. No association was found between CRISPLD2 and our Colombian population or IRF8 and NSCLP. In situ hybridization showed that CRISPLD2 is expressed in the mandible, palate and nasopharynx regions during craniofacial development at E13.5-E17.5, respectively. Altogether, these data suggest that genetic variation in CRISPLD2 has a role in the etiology of NSCLP.
Subject(s)
Cell Adhesion Molecules/genetics , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16/genetics , Cleft Lip/genetics , Cleft Palate/genetics , Interferon Regulatory Factors/genetics , Linkage Disequilibrium , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Animals , Cell Adhesion Molecules/biosynthesis , Cleft Lip/metabolism , Cleft Lip/pathology , Cleft Palate/metabolism , Cleft Palate/pathology , Colombia , Family , Female , Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental , Hispanic or Latino , Humans , Interferon Regulatory Factors/biosynthesis , Interferon Regulatory Factors/metabolism , Male , Mandible/embryology , Mandible/pathology , Mice , White PeopleABSTRACT
Severe allograft dysfunction after heart transplant (HT), without ischemia or evidence of cellular rejection upon endomyocardial biopsy (EMB), is a rare but potentially fatal condition that suggests humoral rejection (HR). Its incidence, and the methods of choice for its diagnosis and management, remain uncertain. We retrospectively studied 445 HT patients (April 1991-December 2003) to determine incidence of HR diagnosed by clinical and conventional histopathological criteria. We used immunofluorescence (IF) techniques to test archived frozen EMB issue for IgM, IgG, C1q, C3, fibrin and C4d. Twelve patients (2.7%) fulfilled the criteria for HR after a mean time post-HT of 21.3 +/- 24.7 months (range: 2-72 months). Patients were treated with high doses of steroids and plasmapheresis, with successful recovery in 11 cases. IF studies using classical markers were mainly negative for the six patients with enough EMB tissue for testing. All six patients showed positivity for C4d during the HR episode but not before or after. Humoral rejection was observed in less than 3% of HT patients. Plasmapheresis treatment was highly effective. Classical IF tests were not useful for diagnosis, but C4d appears to be useful both for confirmation of diagnosis and for monitoring response to treatment.
Subject(s)
Antibody Formation/physiology , Complement C4b/biosynthesis , Graft Rejection , Heart Transplantation/methods , Myocardium/pathology , Peptide Fragments/biosynthesis , Adult , Aged , Antigens, CD/biosynthesis , Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/biosynthesis , Biomarkers , Biopsy , Complement C1q/biosynthesis , Complement C3/biosynthesis , Female , Fibrin/biosynthesis , Follow-Up Studies , Graft Survival , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/biosynthesis , Immunoglobulin M/biosynthesis , Ischemia , Male , Microscopy, Fluorescence , Middle Aged , Plasmapheresis , Retrospective Studies , Steroids/therapeutic use , Time Factors , Transplantation, Homologous , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is a genetically complex birth defect, with a prevalence from 1/500 to 1/1,000 live births. Evidence from linkage and linkage disequilibrium studies is contradictory suggesting that heterogeneity between study populations may exist. A recent report of a genome widescan in 92 sib pairs from the United Kingdom revealed suggestive linkage to 10 loci [Prescott et al., 2000]. The purpose of this study is to replicate those results and evaluate additional candidate genes in 49 Colombian and 13 Ohio families. Genotypes were obtained for STRPs at 1p36, 2p13 (TGFA), 4p16 (MSX1), 6p23-25, 6q25-27, 8q23-24, 11p12-q13, 12q13, 14q24 (TGFB3), 16q22-24, 17q12-21 (RARA), and Xcen-q21. Linkage was performed using parametric (dominant and recessive models) and non-parametric (GenehunterNPL and SimIBD) analyses. In addition, heterogeneity was analyzed using GenehunterHLOD, and association determined by the TDT. The Colombian families showed significant SimIBD results for 11p12-q13 (P = 0.034), 12q13 (P = 0.015), 16q22-24 (0.01), and 17q12-21 (0.009), while the Ohio families showed significant SimIBD results for 1p36 (P = 0.02), TGFA (P = 0.005), 6p23 (P = 0.004), 11p12-q13 (P = 0.048) and significant NPL results for TGFA (NPL = 3.01, P = 0.009), 4p16 (MNPL = 2.07, P = 0.03) and 12q13 (SNPL = 3.55, P = 0.007). Significant association results were obtained only for the Colombian families in the regions 1p36 (P = 0.046), 6p23-25 (P = 0.020), and 12q13 (P = 0.046). In addition several families yielded LOD scores ranging from 1.09 to 1.73, for loci at 4p16, 6p23-25, 16q22-24, and 17q13. These results confirm previous reports for these loci. However, the differences between the two populations suggest that population specific locus heterogeneity exists. This article contains supplementary material, which may be viewed at the American Journal of Medical Genetics website at http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0148-7299/suppmat/index.html.
Subject(s)
Cleft Lip/genetics , Cleft Palate/genetics , Genetic Linkage/genetics , Genetic Markers , Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics , Cleft Lip/pathology , Cleft Palate/pathology , Colombia , Family Health , Female , Genes, Dominant , Genes, Recessive , Genotype , Humans , Lod Score , Male , Microsatellite Repeats , Ohio , Pedigree , PrevalenceSubject(s)
Curriculum , Schools, Dental/trends , Colombia , Capacity Building , Health Policy/trendsABSTRACT
La evaluación educativa inherente a la propuesta, dio origen a la pretensión de sistematizarla participativamente, documentándola e interpretándola por medio de la recuperación de experiencias de la segunda y tercera etapas, para complementar la sistematización, ya finalizada la primera etapa, retomando las categorías de análisis: organización, participación y formación de profesores, estudiantes y administración, en el marco de una investigación histórico-hermenéutica, vertiente etnográfica. Se realizaron dos talleres participativos con la administración, los profesores y los estudiantes protagonistas del proceso, recuperando y validando la experiencia; basados en reconstrucciones previas del equipo investigador y apoyados en documentos, vivencias personales e informes de ejecución de cada uno de los siete semestres que constituyen la segunda y tercera etapas del plan de estudios. El análisis descriptivo encontró deficiencias administrativas en la concertación exagerada de profesores de cátedra, en la evaluación y en las metodologías, sobresaliendo reiteradamente el desarrollo investigativo y humano, ejes de la transformación curricular, un nuevo concepto de evaluación institucional y por último, el marco conceptual de dicha transformación, aunque no fue sociabilizado ni comprendido a plenitud. El análisis estructural permitió definir el proceso curricular gestado en las respectivas etapas, resaltando las amenazas y debilidades, así como sus fortalezas y posibilidades de mejoramiento. El análisis inferencial, concluyó que la resistencia al cambio continuaba en una gran proporción de los protagonistas del proceso, al igual que la improvisación y falta de coordinación que resultó en la atomización del conocimiento y en que lo ejecutado se alejaba de lo planeado; este análisis resaltó positivamente la responsabilidad y pertinencia de unos pocos docentes que a pesar de la adversidad supieron implementar la propuesta y los procesos de autoevaluación
Subject(s)
Schools, Dental/trends , Educational Measurement/methods , Curriculum , Administrative Personnel , Cohort Studies , Colombia , Curriculum , Epidemiology, Descriptive , Faculty, Dental , Health Workforce , Health-Disease Process , Models, Structural , Community Dentistry/trends , Participatory PlanningABSTRACT
La Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Antioquia comenzó a desarrollar una propuesta curricular innovadora para la formación de odontólogos desde la década anterior, la implementó en el pregrado desde 1993, en un proceso al que denominó Transformación Curricular, y que parte de la concepción en la formación de odontólogos como componente del proceso educativo integral del hombre en los personal, lo social y lo profesional. La Transformación Curricular entiende a la práctica odontológica como respuesta científica, técnica y social a las necesidades de la comunidad. A su vez, define el objeto de estudio de la odontología como el estudio del proceso salud-enfermedad humano con énfasis en su componente bucal. La evaluación del proceso es consustancial a la Transformación Curricular, por eso se adelantó una sistematización de la experiencia con las categorías de análisis de organización, participación y formación de los profesores, los estudiantes y de las directivas de la Facultad dentro del enfoque investigativo histórico-hermenéutico en su vertiente etnográfica. Se pretendió documentar e interpretar, por medio de la reflexión, la experiencia de la primera cohorte de estudiantes en la etapa inicial del plan de estudios de pregrado de la Facultad de Odontología. Se realizaron dos talleres participativos de profesores y estudiantes. El análisis descriptivo encontró deficiencias administrativas en el desarrollo docente, en la evaluación que se implementó, en las metodologías empleadas. Sobresalió positivamente el desarrollo investigativo y humano, ejes de la transformación curricular, así como en la autoevaluación estudiantil y en el marco conceptual de la transformación. El análisis estructural posibilitó definir la reconstrucción del proceso curricular, resaltando sus debilidades y sus posibilidades de mejoramiento. El análisis inferencial permitió concluir que las falencias encontradas en lo administrativo, en lo docente y lo pedagógico, fueron producto del apresuramiento en su implementación, generando improvisación, desorganización, la resistencia al cambio y la inadecuada coordinación. Fue muy positiva la responsabilidad de unos pocos comprometidos que supieron poner en práctica la propuesta a pear de las adversidades, pero no pudieron permear su entusiasmo a todo el profesorado