Los presidentes médicos de la Sociedad Científica Argentina en sus 150 años / The medical presidents of the Argentine Scientific Society in its 150 years

Los autores describen los hechos que dieron lugar al nacimiento, en 1872, de la SCA, que cumplió 150 años de existencia. Se señalan sus fundadores, sus objetivos y los principales hitos a lo largo de ese tiempo. El análisis hace hincapié en que durante la primera mitad de ese período solo un presidente fue médico: los demás fueron ingenieros, físicos, químicos, militares, abogados e investigadores naturalistas. En cambio, durante la segunda mitad 8 médicos, de distintas especialidades, ocuparon la presidencia, todos con una destacada actuación profesional, tanto nacional como internacional, y que aportaron una característica especial a la institución, propia de esta profesión. (AU)

The authors describe the events that led to the birth, in 1872, of the SCA, which celebrated 150 years of existence. Its founders, its objectives and the main milestones throughout that time are indicated. The analysis emphasizes that during the first half of that period only one president was a doctor: the others were engineers, physicists, chemists, soldiers, lawyers, and naturalistic researchers. On the other hand, during the second half, 8 doctors, from different specialties, held the presidency, all with an outstanding professional performance, both nationally and internationally, and who contributed a special characteristic to the institution, typical of this profession. (AU)

Aldo Castellani y las expediciones de la Royal Society al país del sueño negro / Aldo Castellani and the expeditions of the Royal Society to the black sleep's country

At the beginning the investigation on infectious diseases was plenty of adventures in exotic countries. The efforts of the English investigators, headed by Patrick Manson, gave birth to the "tropical" medicine and "tropical" diseases, like the sleeping sickness, which was sweeping the country north to the Victoria Lake in 1901. The Royal Society of London sent two Commissions in search of the etiological agent. Aldo Castellani was decisive for the failure of the first - Low, Castellani, Christy,1902 - because even he saw Trypanosoma in samples of some patients, he did not appreciate his discovery; and decisive also for the success of the second -Bruce, Nabarro, Greig, 1903 - when he and Bruce recognized this Trypanosoma as the etiological agent. Following these expeditions, Low developed a brilliant career in England, Christy a life of investigation mixed up with adventures through Asia and Africa and Castellani a long life of lights and shadows in many lands.

En un comienzo la investigación sobre enfermedades infecciosas estuvo llena de aventuras en países exóticos. Impulsada por los investigadores ingleses, encabezados por Patrick Manson, nacieron la medicina y las enfermedades "tropicales", entre las cuales se encontraba la enfermedad del sueño, que a comienzos del siglo XX hacía estragos al norte del lago Victoria. La Real Sociedad de Londres envió dos Comisiones a Uganda para determinar el agente etiológico. Aldo Castellani fue decisivo para el fracaso de la primera, que incluía también a Low y Christy, en 1902, pues aunque vio tripanosomas en LCR de enfermos, no les otorgó valor y prefirió postular un diplococo como agente causal; y decisivo también para el éxito de la segunda, de Bruce, Nabarro y Greig, en 1903, al concordar con Bruce en que el tripanosoma era realmente el causante de la enfermedad. Después de estas expediciones, Low desarrolló una brillante carrera en Inglaterra, Christy una vida que combinaba investigación con aventura en Asia y África, y Castellani una larga vida de éxitos, oscurecida por sus ideas políticas, que lo ligaban a Mussolini.

Fifty Years of the Korean Society for Parasitology

In 1959, the Korean Society for Parasitology was founded by clinical scientists, specialists of public health, and 5 core parasitologists with experience in American science and medicine. The Society this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. Due to public health importance at the time of foundation, medical parasitology was the main stream for next 3 decades. Domestic problems of niche parasitic diseases, unlisted in 6 tropical diseases of major importance, had been studied by own efforts. To cope with the demand of parasite control, evaluation system for control activity was built up. Control activity against soil-transmitted nematodes, conducted for almost 3 decades, was evaluated as a success. Evaluation of praziquantel efficacy for clonorchiasis, paragonimiasis, and neurocysticercosis, population dynamics of Ascaris lumbricoides infection in a situation of continuous reinfections, diagnostic modalities of antibody tests combined with brain imaging developed for helminthiasis of the central nervous system and researches on intestinal trematodes were achievements in the first 30 years. During the recent 2 decades, science researches, such as cell and molecular biology of parasites and immunology of parasitic infections have been studied especially on parasitic allergens and proteolytic and anti-oxidant enzymes. Experiences of international cooperation for world health have been accumulated and would be expanded in the future.

Marina de Vasconcellos e as ciências sociais cariocas: a perspectiva dos círculos sociais / Marina de Vasconcellos and the social sciences in Rio de Janeiro: a study of the social circles

A trajetória de uma das 'mães-fundadoras' das ciências sociais cariocas, Marina de Vasconcellos, herdeira de Arthur Ramos, permite entender a afirmação da antropologia na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Os conflitos e alianças, as continuidades e descontinuidades explicam a pioneira Sociedade Brasileira de Antropologia e Etnologia e o Instituto de Ciências Sociais, ambos na Faculdade Nacional de Filosofia. Marina vivenciou o confronto entre diferentes modelos do fazer antropológico, em tempos de institucionalização dos cursos universitários. Empenhou-se na formação de novos quadros profissionais e em 1968 lutou pela autonomia universitária. O estudo impõe-nos a reflexão sobre os critérios de êxito de uma carreira acadêmica, contestando a visão de que esta se restringe à publicação de livros e artigos.

An investigation of the career of one of the "founding mothers" of the social sciences in Rio de Janeiro, Marina de Vasconcellos, successor of Arthur Ramos, is one way of understanding how anthropology was established in Rio de Janeiro. Conflicts and alliances, continuities and discontinuities, lie behind the pioneering Brazilian Society of Anthropology and Ethnology and the Institute of Social Sciences, both at Faculdade Nacional de Filosofia. Marina de Vasconcellos' professional life bore the marks of the clash between different schools of thought regarding anthropology at a time when university courses were being introduced. As a professor, she was committed to educating new professionals, and in 1968, she was steadfast in the struggle for university autonomy. The study leads to a reflection upon the criteria for success in academia, countering the view that this depends entirely on the publication of books and articles.

Historia de la constitución y primeros años de la Sociedad Chilena de Infectología / History of foundation and early years of the Infectology Society of Chile

Se han cumplido los primeros veinte años de la fundación de la Sociedad Chilena de Infectología. Aunque el periodo parece bastante breve, sabemos que hay muchos antecedentes y hechos desconocidos por una proporción significativa de socios y por la comunidad médica en general. Esta historia es relatada por los protagonistas de la primera junta directiva y refleja necesariamente sus recuerdos y vivencias.

História da Dermatologia no Brasil / The history of Dermatology in Brazil

Constitui-se numa prestação de contas dos 90 anos de atividade da Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia, à população, ao público leigo, do trabalho desenvolvido pela entidade.