Actualización continua de los bioquímicos de Argentina y América latina: motivaciones y limitaciones / Continuous professional development among biochemical professionals of Argentina and Latin America: motivations and limitations

El modelo tradicional de estudiar hasta obtener un título y ejercer toda la vida profesional con esos conocimientos ha cambiado por uno caracterizado por prácticas de actualización continua. En este estudio se pretende identificar las variables principales que explicarían la participación de los bioquímicos en su desarrollo profesional permanente como parte de una investigación más amplia realizada en la Facultad de Bioquímica de la Universidad Nacional del Litoral, también orientada a obtener los perfiles de los profesionales que realizan análisis clínicos en Argentina y Latinoamérica. Los datos se obtuvieron utilizando un cuestionario auto-administrado enviado por correo electrónico y convencional a profesionales de la base de datos de cursos de la Facultad y del Colegio de Bioquímicos de Entre Ríos. Se observa que se prefieren formas de estudio independiente y cursos a distancia, soportados por materiales impresos y presenciales. La primordial motivación es el mejoramiento de la calidad de las prestaciones seguida por el acompañamiento del avance científico-tecnológico. Factores limitantes principales son: personales, acceso geográfico y costos. Una propuesta académico-institucional orientada a facilitar el acceso a la capacitación continua deberá considerar preferencias, factores motivadores y limitantes en el marco de una oferta ampliada basada en la modalidad a distancia con una difusión intensificada de las posibilidades educativas.

The traditional model of studying until obtaining a professional degree and working with that acquired knowledge has changed towards another model characterized by a continuous professional update. The objective of this study is to identify the variables that can explain the biochemists’ participation in activities related to the professional development as a part of a wider research conducted by the School of Biochemistry of Universidad Nacional del Litoral also aimed at determining the professional profiles of those who perform clinical analyses in Argentina and Latin America. Data was obtained through a self administered questionnaire sent by electronic and postal mail to professionals registered in a database of postgraduate courses of the School of Biochemistry and the Association of Biochemists Entre Rios. Independent study and distance courses combined with presencial ones with printed materials are preferred options. The main motivation is to improve the quality of the services followed by the need to accompany knowledge and technology developments. The main obstacles are: personal factors, geographical access and course costs. An academic proposal aimed at facilitating access to activities of continuous education should consider the above mentioned preferences, facilitators and demotivators. It should also contemplate the enlargement of the educational offer based on distance options and the improvement of spreading strategies.

Beneficios de incorporar un simbiótico a la dieta de adultos mayores con infecciones recurrentes / Benefits of adding symbiotic food to the diet of elderly people with recurrent infections

El propósito de este trabajo fue estudiar la evolución clínica de un grupo de adultos mayores, proclives a padecer infecciones bacterianas principalmente de las vías respiratorias, al adicionar a su dieta un alimento simbiótico con Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophillus y fructanos y, además, correlacionar los resultados obtenidos con modificaciones en los parámetros inmunológicos medidos. Se incluyeron 90 pacientes adultos mayores de 65 años, todos con antecedentes de infecciones bacterianas recurrentes de las vías respiratorias. Cada individuo suplementó su dieta habitual con una dosis diaria del simbiótico SanCor Bio con fructanos. La administración se realizó durante los meses de época invernal. Se realizó un seguimiento clínico, se hizo recuento de Lactobacillus spp en materia fecal, se cuantificaron subpoblaciones linfocitarias CD4 y CD8 y se evaluó la activación de monocitos en sangre periférica. Se observó disminución de los cuadros virales (gripales) y ausencia de infecciones bacterianas de vías respiratorias; además, aumentó el número de Lactobacillus spp en materia fecal y se estimuló la respuesta inmune principalmente inespecífica. Esto sugiere que dicho simbiótico puede ser utilizado como terapia preventiva en grupos vulnerables a infecciones y con depleciones del sistema inmunológico.

The aim of this work was to study the clinical evolution of a group of elderly people who had a tendency to suffer from bacterial infections, mainly of the respiratory tract, after having added food with Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus and fructans to their diet, and then to correlate the results obtained with alterations in immunological parameters previously set. Ninety patients who were older than 65 and had a background of recurrent bacterial infections in their respiratory tract were included in this study. Their daily diet was supplemented with a dose of Sancor Bio during winter months in 2007. A clinical analysis was carried out, Lactobacillus spp in faeces were counted, CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes were quantified and the activation of monocytes in peripheral blood was evaluated. In conclusion, the administration of this symbiotic food proved to be biochemical and clinically effective, showing to be a good colony of the intestinal mucose, promoting the principally unspecific immune response, everything correlated with clinical information. All this suggests that this food can be used asa preventive therapy in groups of people who are vulnerable to infections and who have immunological system depletions.

[Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori anti-CagA antibodies and its relationship with epidemiologic factors in Santa Fe]. / Seroprevalencia de anticuerpos anti-CagA de Helicobacter pylori y su relación con factores epidemiológicos en Santa Fe.

The early detection of anti-CagA antibodies in young adults would be of a great clinical impact in the prevention of gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to assess IgG and anti-CagA antibodies seroprevalence against Helicobacter pylori in our region using a non invasive technique, easy to perform an evaluating its relationship with different epidemiological risk factors. Four hundred and thirty-five volunteers with a mean age of forty years old from different health centers were included in this study. Demographic socieconomical and other data of interest were recorded. IgG and CagA antibodies against Helicobacter pylori were determined using an enzyme immunoassay technique. The prevalence of IgG antibodies was 52.2% being 152 in women (53.7%) and 75 in men (49%). These antibodies were showed in 65% of affected patients and 43.1% in asymptomatic carriers. The prevalence anti-CagA antibodies was 63.4% among seropositives (IgG) individuals corresponding to 33.1% of the total studied population. Ninety-six (33.9%) persons of this group were women an 48 (31.6%) were men. The prevalence was 45.4% and 25.7% in symptomatic an asymptomatic individuals, respectively. It was demonstrated that IgG antibodies were associated with age, area of residence, educational level reached and number of bedrooms in the house. The anti-CagA antibodies depend on area of residence and symptoms. The relation between the symptoms and the presence of anti-CagA antibodies shows the selective importance of clinical data in the gastric diseases associated with Helicobacter pylori.

Seroprevalencia de anticuerpos anti-CagA de Helicobacter pylori y su relación con factores epidemiológicos en Santa Fe. / [Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori anti-CagA antibodies and its relationship with epidemiologic factors in Santa Fe]

The early detection of anti-CagA antibodies in young adults would be of a great clinical impact in the prevention of gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to assess IgG and anti-CagA antibodies seroprevalence against Helicobacter pylori in our region using a non invasive technique, easy to perform an evaluating its relationship with different epidemiological risk factors. Four hundred and thirty-five volunteers with a mean age of forty years old from different health centers were included in this study. Demographic socieconomical and other data of interest were recorded. IgG and CagA antibodies against Helicobacter pylori were determined using an enzyme immunoassay technique. The prevalence of IgG antibodies was 52.2

being 152 in women (53.7

) and 75 in men (49

). These antibodies were showed in 65

of affected patients and 43.1

in asymptomatic carriers. The prevalence anti-CagA antibodies was 63.4

among seropositives (IgG) individuals corresponding to 33.1

of the total studied population. Ninety-six (33.9

) persons of this group were women an 48 (31.6

) were men. The prevalence was 45.4

and 25.7

in symptomatic an asymptomatic individuals, respectively. It was demonstrated that IgG antibodies were associated with age, area of residence, educational level reached and number of bedrooms in the house. The anti-CagA antibodies depend on area of residence and symptoms. The relation between the symptoms and the presence of anti-CagA antibodies shows the selective importance of clinical data in the gastric diseases associated with Helicobacter pylori.