La filosofía en el marco de las neurociencias / Philosophy within the context of neurosciences

A partir de la interrelación entre ciencia y filosofía, se aborda el impacto que tienen las neurociencias sobre las cuestiones filosóficas planteadas en la actualidad, muy especialmente las relacionadas con la epistemología y la filosofía de la ciencia. Para ello se tienen en cuenta los diversos enfoques de las ciencias cognitivas, fundamentalmente los surgidos en torno a la cognición social, corporizada y situada frente a una cognición individual, racional y abstracta. Con este marco de partida se analizan las formas de representar el conocimiento y las características del agente cognoscente (AU)

Based on the interrelation between science and philosophy, this article addresses the impact of neurosciences on the philosophical issues posed by today’s society, especially those related with epistemology and the philosophy of science. To do so, the different approaches in the cognitive sciences are taken into account, with special attention paid to those that have to do with social, embodied and situated cognition versus a more individual, rational and abstract cognition. This initial framework is taken as the starting point with which to analyse the ways of representing knowledge and the characteristics of the cognoscente agent (AU)

The acute phase response in the Sudan plated lizard, Gerrhosaurus major.

The Sudan plated lizard (Gerrhosaurus major), previously reported to be an afebrile species, was utilized in a series of experiments to test for various aspects of the acute phase response. Treatment of individuals with the antibiotic Baytril resulted in a slight (0.5 degree C) but significant reduction in mean selected body temperature (MSBT), while treatment with saline did not lower MSBT. Nonantibiotic treatment individuals had depressed plasma iron levels (86.6 +/- 22.4 micrograms Fe 100 ml-1 plasma) and treatment with Baytril produced a significant increase in plasma iron concentration (186.8 +/- 19.5 micrograms Fe 100 ml-1 plasma). Necropsy of randomly selected individuals indicated that animals obtained from the commercial supplier had Aeromonas, Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas and Salmonella infections and antibiotic treatment eliminated these infections. The growth rate of Aeromonas sobria is reduced when the bacteria are grown at 32 degrees C and reduced iron concentration compared to 34.5 degrees C and low iron concentration, which suggests that a fever response may not be beneficial in reducing bacterial growth. Saline injected, bacteria injected and antibiotic injected Gerrhosaurus major have high plasma zinc concentrations compared to the previously studied febrile species, Dipsosaurus dorsalis. This difference suggests that zinc concentrations in afebrile species deserve further study.

[Early screening using a direct test for genital chlamydiosis in women]. / Dépistage précoce à l'aide d'un test direct de la chlamydiose génitale chez la femme.

Elevated prevalence of asymptomatic genital tract Chlamydia infection in women, complications of this infection and introduction on the market of simple and accurate diagnostic tests at low cost are the major reasons to suggest screening programs for genital tract Chlamydia infection in women. Case finding should be the adopted approach. Diagnostic tests, including culture considered to be the gold standard, are reviewed. Accuracy and usefulness of these laboratory techniques are discussed in the context of the proposed case-finding approach.

Early detection of genital chlamydial infection in women: an economic evaluation.

A decision analysis model was constructed for comparison of early detection of asymptomatic genital chlamydial infection in women by the direct immunofluorescence antibody (DFA) test and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with no intervention. Early-detection programs using the DFA test and ELISA were shown to be cost-effective in female populations where the prevalences of chlamydial infection exceeded 6% and 7%, respectively. Sensitivity analysis showed that the two most important factors were the probability of developing pelvic inflammatory disease and the cost of the test. The DFA method was more appropriate for an early-detection program because of its higher sensitivity.