[The evolution of Chilean universities from 1981 to 2004]. / Evolución de las universidades chilenas 1981-2004.

In 1981, a supreme decree allowed the creation of private universities in Chile. As a consequence, 50 new universities were created in one decade, under the surveillance of the Council for Superior Education. This paper analyzes the evolution of this expansion process, that resulted in an admission of 370,000 students to 60 universities along the country, during 2004. At the moment, 42% of the universities, designed as traditional, receive state financing and 58% are private. Twenty six percent are owned by the state, 52% are secular and 22% are confessional. The 25 traditional universities are complex organizations of a high academic level. New private universities are only devoted to teaching and some have obtained their autonomy. Some have improved the quality of their academic staff, perform research and impart doctorate degrees. However, most are small and with a limited academic staff. Traditional universities are stratified in a superior level. Eight private universities and some regional institutions, that are becoming complex and performing research activities, are stratified in a middle level. Two thirds of the private universities are in the lower level. The expansion of superior education is a sign of the social and cultural progress that Chile has experienced.

Principios bioéticos sobre datos genéticos humanos

La Declaración Universal sobre el Genoma humano y los Derechos Humanos de UNESCO (1997) ha sido aceptada por la comunidad científica internacional. Para aplicar sus normas se hace necesario reglamentar más especificamente la regulación de los datos y muestras genéticas humanas y su información derivada en el área de la investigación biomédica. En efecto, la recolección, procesamiento, uso y almacenamiento del material genético, tiene riesgos potenciales en el ejercicio y protección de los Derechos Humanos. El autor, miembro del Comité Intergubernamental de Bioética de UNESCO que aprobó el borrador final en Junio de 2003, ha participado en la redacción del texto definitivo de una nueva Declaración Internacional esta vez, sobre Datos genéticos humanos, cuyo texto abreviado describe y comenta en esta comunicación (AU)

No disponible

[Biographical notes about Salvador Allende G]. / Síntesis biográfica del doctor Salvador Allende G.

Thirty years have elapsed since the tragic death of Salvador Allende, MD. He occupies a high position as a symbol of the fall of real socialism. He became the most famous physician/politician of his times in Chile and the tracks of his life became imprinted, during the past century, in the pages of Revista Médica de Chile. This is a proper time to reconstruct his historical memory from a more reflexive perspective.

[Evaluation of classical works in the history of genetics ]. / Valoración de trabajos clásicos en la historia de la genética.

The classical Mendelian genetics forged the development of biomedical sciences in the twentieth century. However, the classical works that allowed the sequencing of human genoma, have not received the recognition that they deserve. The author does a historical revision of works, considered classic in genetics and its specialties such as cytogenetics, biochemical genetics, immunogenetics and molecular genetics, published between 1990 and 1999. Authors that received the Nobel Prize are identified and the works are sorted in chronological order. Most founders of genetics specialties, have not received the Nobel Prize. Only 26 of 80 classical works have been awarded with such distinction. Almost all founders of Mendelian genetics and human cytogenetics, have been unrewarded. The author proposes to create the "Johan Gregory Mendel Prize" for geneticists.

[Bioethical principles concerning human genetic data]. / Principios bioéticos sobre datos genéticos humanos.

UNESCO'S Universal declaration on the human genome and human rights (1997) has been accepted by the international scientific community. To apply these laws, it is necessary to get more specific rules about data regulation, human genetic samples and its derived information in biomedic research. Indeed, genetic material recollection, processing, use and storing, has potential risks over human rights' protection and exercise. The author, member of UNESCO'S intergovernmental Bioethics Committee which approved the final draft in June 2003, has taken part in the writing of the final text of an international declaration about human genetic data, whose abbreviate text is described and commented in this communication.

Sistema especialista de apoyo para el diagnóstico y selección de exámenes en enfermedades genéticas / Specialist system for genetic disease diagnosis and experimental selection

Se desarrolla un sistema computacional de apoyo para el diagnóstico de enfermedades genéticas basado en información estadística. El sistema opera sobre la base de mejorar una hipóstesis diagnóstica mediante la elección apropiada del próximo examen a realizar, para maximizar la reducción de la entropía informática o cantidad de incerteza de la hipótesis. El método se aplicó a un grupo reducido de trisomías con el fin de evaluar su comportamiento en pacientes reales. Se describen las principales características de la realización computacional en un computador personal, las que constituyen una interfaz amigable con el usuario médico