Características clínicas, evolución y factores pronósticos asociados con mortalidad en adultos mayores hospitalizados por COVID-19 en una Unidad Geriátrica de Agudos / Evolution and prognostic factors associated with mortality in older adults hospitalized for COVID-19 Cecilia Carvachoa

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 affects all age groups, but higher mortality rates are recorded in older people, men and with comorbidities, mainly hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Aim: To describe the main clinical characteristics, evolution and prognostic factors for death in older patients hospitalized for COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 128 patients aged 73 years, 66% men, hospitalized at a clinical hospital, with a diagnosis of COVID-19, admitted from May 1 to August 1, 2020. Data were collected from the clinical records, a description of the study population was made, and a univariate analysis and logistic regression were performed. Results: Seventy-two percent of patients had two or more comorbidities, mainly arterial hypertension in 66%, diabetes mellitus in 34% and cardiovascular disease in 19%. Forty-one percent were admitted to intensive care and 31% were connected to mechanical ventilation. In-hospital mortality was 26.6%. A multivariate analysis was performed in two blocks, finding in the first that arterial hypertension and older age significantly predict mortality. However, when previous institutionalization and immuno-suppression were included as variables in the second block, age ceased to be a significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS: Prognostic factors associated with death in this age group are arterial hypertension and previous institutionalization.

[Evolution and prognostic factors associated with mortality in older adults hospitalized for COVID-19]. / Características clínicas, evolución y factores pronósticos asociados con mortalidad en adultos mayores hospitalizados por COVID-19 en una Unidad Geriátrica de Agudos.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 affects all age groups, but higher mortality rates are recorded in older people, men and with comorbidities, mainly hypertension, diabetes and obesity. AIM: To describe the main clinical characteristics, evolution and prognostic factors for death in older patients hospitalized for COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 128 patients aged 73 years, 66% men, hospitalized at a clinical hospital, with a diagnosis of COVID-19, admitted from May 1 to August 1, 2020. Data were collected from the clinical records, a description of the study population was made, and a univariate analysis and logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: Seventy-two percent of patients had two or more comorbidities, mainly arterial hypertension in 66%, diabetes mellitus in 34% and cardiovascular disease in 19%. Forty-one percent were admitted to intensive care and 31% were connected to mechanical ventilation. In-hospital mortality was 26.6%. A multivariate analysis was performed in two blocks, finding in the first that arterial hypertension and older age significantly predict mortality. However, when previous institutionalization and immuno-suppression were included as variables in the second block, age ceased to be a significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS: Prognostic factors associated with death in this age group are arterial hypertension and previous institutionalization.

Bayesian analysis of Ag thin films formation.

A detailed numerical study of the formation of metallic silver thin films ranged from 8 up to 50 nm on thickness is presented. The topography of these films was imaged by Atomic Force Microscopy, and starting from these images, some surface parameters were obtained. We characterized the root mean square roughness evolution by a simple power-law model with a coefficient α=0.74±0.01 consistent with the theoretical results of Family and Vicsek (1985), Family (1990). Additionally, we considered different models to describe the distributions of the grains' heights and sizes, and analyzed them via Bayesian statistics and a Markov Chain Monte Carlo numerical method. This Bayesian analysis has been significantly helpful in this work for allowing the study of the models that represent our data best and considering the experimental errors as instrumental data. The results of this analysis suggest an individual grains' growth followed by a collapse between neighboring grains.

Espacios de aprendizaje híbridos. Hacia una educación del futuro en la Universidad de Guayaquil / Hybrid learning spaces. Towards an education of the future at the Guayaquil University

El modelo pedagógico de aprendizaje híbrido es cada vez más utilizado en la educación superior, por el hecho de que promueve cambios significativos en el aprendizaje. El objetivo de este artículo es facilitar una propuesta teórica sobre la metodología clase invertida, para su implementación en el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje de la Facultad Piloto de Odontología de la Universidad de Guayaquil. Esta concepción implica la apertura a oportunidades efectivas de diálogo y construcción colaborativa de contenidos, así como la promoción de la cultura digital en función de las actividades de colaboración y cooperación entre directivos y profesores para actuar de manera diferente en el aula.

The pedagogical hybrid learning model is increasingly used in higher education, due to the fact that it promotes significant changes in learning. The objective of this article is to facilitate a theoretical proposal on the inverted class methodology, for its implementation in the teaching process of the Dentistry Experimental Faculty of the Guayaquil University. This concept implies opening effective opportunities for dialogue and collaborative content construction, as well as the promotion of digital culture in terms of collaboration and cooperation between managers and teachers to act differently in the classroom.

El aprendizaje basado en problemas en la educación odontológica / Problem based learning in dentistry ducation

El aprendizaje es un tema de discusión constante en el ámbito de las ciencias pedagógicas. Dentro de este, el protagonismo del estudiante es un tema complejo, al cual se presenta como alternativa el aprendizaje basado en problemas. El objetivo de este artículo es hacer una revisión de las investigaciones que apoyan la efectividad del aprendizaje basado en problemas, como método de enseñanza en la educación odontológica. Este concepto fue introducido en la década del 60, en Canadá, como respuesta a los problemas y limitaciones de los enfoques tradicionales de enseñanza. Se exponen y debaten los aspectos teóricos del enfoque de aprendizaje basado en problemas, así como sus diferentes tendencias, extrapolables a la educación odontológica. El aprendizaje basado en problemas puede mejorar el pensamiento crítico de los estudiantes de odontología, enseñándoles a analizar y resolver problemas reales, que los preparen para su futura vida profesional.

Learning is a topic of constant discussion in the pedagogical sciences field. Within this, the student protagonism is a complex subject, which has as an alternative problem based learning. The aim of this article is to review the research supporting the effectiveness of problem based learning as a teaching method in dental education. This concept was introduced in the 1960s in Canada in response to the problems and limitations of traditional approaches to teaching. The theoretical aspects of problem based approach to learning, as well as its different trends, extrapolated to dentistry education, are presented and discussed. Problem based learning can improve dentistry students' critical thinking by teaching them to analyze and solve real problems which prepare them for their future professional life.

Fundamentos teóricos de la Web 2.0 para la docencia en la educación superior / Theoretical Foundations of Web 2.0 for Teaching in Higher Education

Los avatares de la Web 2.0 como filosofía de concepción de los procesos docentes educativos, han cobrado auge en los últimos años. EL objetivo de este trabajo es caracterizar teóricamente las herramientas de la Web 2.0 en función de la docencia en el contexto de la educación superior. El estudio se ha realizado con documentos socializados por autores con experiencia en el tema, procedentes de la región y del mundo. La Web 2.0 cuenta con herramientas fundamentales, como cursos en línea masivos y abiertos, ePortafolio, entre otras, las que funcionan como elementos mediadores en el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje. Se concluye que la Web 2.0 supone para los docentes de la educación superior un instrumento teórico, cuyo conocimiento y aplicación se revierte en la calidad de la docencia universitaria.

The avatars of Web 2.0 as a philosophy of educational teaching processes conception, have gained momentum in recent years. The objective of this paper is to characterize theoretically the Web 2.0 tools in terms of higher education context teaching. The study was done with documents socialized by experienced authors in the subject, coming from the region and the world. Web 2.0 has fundamental tools, such as massive and open online courses, ePortafolio, among others, which function as mediating elements in the teaching-learning process. It is concluded that the Web 2.0 supposes for higher education teachers a theoretical instrument, whose knowledge and application is reverted in university teaching quality.

El aprendizaje basado en problemas en la educación odontológica / Problem based learning in dentistry ducation

El aprendizaje es un tema de discusión constante en el ámbito de las ciencias pedagógicas. Dentro de este, el protagonismo del estudiante es un tema complejo, al cual se presenta como alternativa el aprendizaje basado en problemas. El objetivo de este artículo es hacer una revisión de las investigaciones que apoyan la efectividad del aprendizaje basado en problemas, como método de enseñanza en la educación odontológica. Este concepto fue introducido en la década del 60, en Canadá, como respuesta a los problemas y limitaciones de los enfoques tradicionales de enseñanza. Se exponen y debaten los aspectos teóricos del enfoque de aprendizaje basado en problemas, así como sus diferentes tendencias, extrapolables a la educación odontológica. El aprendizaje basado en problemas puede mejorar el pensamiento crítico de los estudiantes de odontología, enseñándoles a analizar y resolver problemas reales, que los preparen para su futura vida profesional(AU)

Learning is a topic of constant discussion in the pedagogical sciences field. Within this, the student protagonism is a complex subject, which has as an alternative problem based learning. The aim of this article is to review the research supporting the effectiveness of problem based learning as a teaching method in dental education. This concept was introduced in the 1960s in Canada in response to the problems and limitations of traditional approaches to teaching. The theoretical aspects of problem based approach to learning, as well as its different trends, extrapolated to dentistry education, are presented and discussed. Problem based learning can improve dentistry students critical thinking by teaching them to analyze and solve real problems which prepare them for their future professional life(AU)

Fundamentos teóricos de la Web 2.0 para la docencia en la educación superior / Theoretical foundations of web 2.0 for teaching in higher education

Los avatares de la Web 2.0 como filosofía de concepción de los procesos docentes educativos, han cobrado auge en los últimos años. EL objetivo de este trabajo es caracterizar teóricamente las herramientas de la Web 2.0 en función de la docencia en el contexto de la educación superior. El estudio se ha realizado con documentos socializados por autores con experiencia en el tema, procedentes de la región y del mundo. La Web 2.0 cuenta con herramientas fundamentales, como cursos en línea masivos y abiertos, ePortafolio, entre otras, las que funcionan como elementos mediadores en el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje. Se concluye que la Web 2.0 supone para los docentes de la educación superior un instrumento teórico, cuyo conocimiento y aplicación se revierte en la calidad de la docencia universitaria(AU)

The avatars of Web 2.0 as a philosophy of educational teaching processes conception, have gained momentum in recent years. The objective of this paper is to characterize theoretically the Web 2.0 tools in terms of higher education context teaching. The study was done with documents socialized by experienced authors in the subject, coming from the region and the world. Web 2.0 has fundamental tools, such as massive and open online courses, ePortafolio, among others, which function as mediating elements in the teaching-learning process. It is concluded that the Web 2.0 supposes for higher education teachers a theoretical instrument, whose knowledge and application is reverted in university teaching quality(AU)

Association efficiency of three ionic forms of oxytetracycline to cationic and anionic oil-in-water nanoemulsions analyzed by diafiltration.

The association efficiency of oxytetracycline (OTC) to pharmaceutical available, ionic oil-in-water nanoemulsions is studied. Theoretical mathematical developments allowed us to differentiate by diafiltration (DF) between thermodynamically and kinetically controlled binding of the drug to the nanoemulsions, and relate these important magnitudes to the association efficiency. The nanoemulsions have been prepared by the solvent displacement technique in the presence of cationic and anionic surfactants. The resulting nanoemulsions were stable at 4°C and 25°C for 60 days, have a size of ∼ 200 nm, showing polydispersity indexes ranging between 0.11 and 0.23, and present zeta potentials ranging between -90 and +60 mV, depending on the charge of the surfactants used. The zeta potential of the nanoemulsions influenced the interaction with OTC, having three ionic forms at different pH, namely, cationic, zwitterionic, and anionic. DF proved to be a powerful tool for the quantification of the drug association efficiency, achieving values up to 84%. Furthermore, this technique allowed obtaining different values of the drug fractions reversibly bound (11%-57%) and irreversibly bound (10%-40%) to the nanoemulsions depending on the surfactants used and pH. These findings may be useful for the development of new drug delivery systems, and as routine assays in academia and pharmaceutical industries.

A Simple Mathematical Model for Wound Closure Evaluation.

The incidence of ulcers associated to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increases every year. We introduce and explore a new mathematical algorithm to evaluate wound-healing in foot ulcers associated to T2DM. Fifteen patients (nine women and six men), mean age of 70 ± 16 years were included. The evolution of their wounds followed-up for a period of 18-45 days. According to the Wagner grading system the ulcers were grade I (5 patients), grade II (9 patients), and grade III (1 patient). Clinically, the type of the ulcers was neuroischemic (12 patients) and neuropathic (3 patients). A new parameter is introduced, the "continuous linear healing rate" Dc that was more accurate with higher values and requires less quantifications than usual formulas to make a wound-healing projection.

Influence of the linear aromatic density on methylene blue aggregation around polyanions containing sulfonate groups.

The aggregation of methylene blue around different polyelectrolytes is studied by diafiltration, UV-vis, and (1)H NMR spectroscopies. Poly(sodium acrylate-co-sodium maleate) induces the formation of higher-order aggregates, showing a typical polyelectrolyte behavior dominated by long-range electrostatic interactions with the dye which are highly dependent on the ionic strength. Poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) presents a high dispersant ability of methylene blue, showing what we can call a typical polyaromatic-anion behavior characterized by the presence of short-range aromatic-aromatic interactions with the dye which are less dependent on the ionic strength. An intermediate behavior is found for the copolymers poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate-co-sodium maleate) at two different comonomer compositions, related to a different probability of the polymers to form and stabilize ion pairs in hydrophobic environments. Their behavior is a function of the linear aromatic density, which is related to the comonomeric structure.