Death and Complexity / Muerte y complejidad / Morte e complexidade

Abstract: There is no such thing as a science of death, although there is a science of life, as it happens. Death is not so much the subject matter of science but an experience, and death experiences we find abundantly in the literature. Now, experience is told not so much in a scientific tenure but as a narrative. Within the framework of bioethics, death comes closer, particularly what is usually known as end-of-life dilemmas, i.e., palliative care, a most sensitive arena, if there is any at all. This paper argues about the interplay or dialogue between death and complexity science. It claims that the knowledge of death is truly the knowledge of life and provides three arguments that lead to the central claim. The first argument is very much close to a kind of heuristic for knowing about death, while the second shows the challenge of knowing death. The third one consists of a reappraisal of death within an extensive cultural or civilizing framework. Lastly, some open-ended conclusions are drawn.

Resumen: No existe cosa tal como una ciencia de la muerte, sin embargo si existe una ciencia de la vida, por suerte. La muerte no se trata de un asunto de ciencia sino de una experiencia, y experiencias de muerte abundan en la literatura. De hecho, la experiencia se cuenta no tanto en un tono científico sino más bien como una narrativa. Dentro del marco de la bioética, la muerte se aborda de una manera más cercana, particularmente en los que se conocen como dilemas del fin de la vida, por ejemplo, el cuidado paliativo, una arena muy sensible, si es que la hay. Este artículo discute sobre la interacción o el diálogo entre la muerte y la ciencia de la complejidad. Afirma que el conocimiento de la muerte en verdad es el conocimiento de la vida y da tres argumentos que llevan a esta afirmación central. El primer argumento es muy cercano a un tipo de heurística por conocer acerca de la muerte, mientras que el segundo expone el reto de conocer la muerte. El tercero consiste en una revaluación de la muerte dentro de un amplio marco cultural o civilizador. Por último, se esbozan algunas conclusiones abiertas.

Resumo: Não existe uma ciência da morte como tal, contudo sim existe uma ciência da vida. A morte não se trata de um assunto de ciência, mas sim de uma experiência, e experiências de morte abundam na literatura. De fato, a experiência se conta não tanto em um tom científico, mas sim como uma narrativa. No âmbito da bioética, a morte é abordada de uma maneira mais íntima, particularmente no que se conhece como "dilemas do fim da vida", por exemplo, no cuidado paliativo, uma arena muito sensível, sim é que a há. Neste artigo, discute-se sobre a interação ou o diálogo entre a morte e a ciência da complexidade. Afirma-se que o conhecimento da morte em verdade é o conhecimento da vida e são apresentados três argumentos que levam a essa afirmação central. O primeiro argumento é muito próximo de um tipo de heurística por conhecer sobre a morte, enquanto o segundo expõe o desafio de conhecer a morte. O terceiro consiste em uma reavaliação da morte dentro de um amplo referencial cultural ou civilizador. Por último, são esboçadas algumas conclusões abertas.

Presentaciones atípicas de COVID-19: Serie de casos / COVID-19 atypical presentations: Case series

Resumen El objetivo del presente trabajo fue presentar una serie de casos de COVID-19 con manifestaciones atípicas de la enfermedad. Los casos fueron atendidos por un equipo interdisciplinario de personal de la salud de una clínica de cuarto nivel en Barranquilla, Colombia, y posteriormente los investigadores tomaron los datos de las historias clínicas. Se evaluaron tres casos: el primero tuvo evolución tórpida y coinfección con virus de la influenza H1N1 y los otros dos, manifestaciones gastrointestinales como debut de la enfermedad; todos tuvieron desenlace satisfactorio. La pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 cada día cobra más vidas, por lo que para identificar oportunamente a los infectados y tomar medidas tanto terapéuticas como de prevención y así evitar la propagación de la enfermedad y lograr su control, es necesario realizar reportes de caso en donde se evidencie la diversa variedad de presentaciones de COVID-19.

Abstract The objective of this work is to present a series of cases of COVID-19 with atypical manifestations of the disease. The cases were evaluated by an interdisciplinary team of health personnel from a fourth-level clinic in Barranquilla, Colombia, and the data was subsequently taken from the clinical history of each patient. Three cases were evaluated, initially the first case with torpid evolution, coinfection with H1N1 influenza virus, however, with satisfactory outcome, and cases two and three with gastrointestinal manifestations as disease debut, with satisfactory evolution. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic takes more lives every day, so it is necessary to describe the cases and their diverse variety of presentation, to identify the infected and take both therapeutic and preventive measures. To prevent the spread of the disease and achieve its control.

Enhancement of the antibacterial activity of an E. faecalis strain by the heterologous expression of enterocin A.

The genus Enterococcus occurs as native microbiota of fermented products due to its broad environmental distribution and its resistance to salt concentrations. Enterococcus faecalis F, a non-pathogenic strain isolated from a ripened cheese, has demonstrated useful enzymatic capabilities, a probiotic behavior and antibacterial activity against some food-borne pathogens, mainly due to peptidoglycan hydrolase activity. Its use as a natural pathogen-control agent could be further enhanced through the production of a bacteriocin, e.g. Enterocin A, because of its remarkable antilisterial activity. In this work, a markerless allelic insertion method was used to obtain an enterococcal strain capable of producing a functional enterocin. Agar diffusion tests showed that the recombinant strain was active against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and the pathogenic strain E. faecalis V583. When grown in liquid culture together with L. monocytogenes, it attained a two-log reduction of the pathogen counts in lesser time relative to the native strain. Because the DNA construction is integrated into the chromosome, the improved strain avoids the use of antibiotics as selective pressure; besides, it does not require an inductor because of the inclusion of a constitutive promoter in the construction. Its technological and antibacterial capabilities make the improved E. faecalis strain a potential culture for use in the food industry.

Cloning and Characterization of a Novel N-acetylglucosaminidase (AtlD) from Enterococcus faecalis.

The atlD gene from an Enterococcus faecalis strain isolated from a Mexican artisanal cheese was cloned, sequenced and expressed in Escherichia coli in order to perform a biochemical characterization. A partial amino acid sequence of the heterologous protein was obtained by LC-MS/MS, and it corresponded to a novel peptidoglycan hydrolase designated AtlD. Its molecular mass was 62-75 kDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE, zymography, Western blot, and exclusion chromatography. Electrofocusing rendered an isoelectric point (pI) of 4.8. It exhibited N-acetylglucosaminidase activity, with an optimal pH and temperature between 6-7 and 50°C, respectively. It retained 85% activity with NaCl at 1,000 mM, but it was susceptible to divalent ions, particularly Zn2+. It showed antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and enterococcal strains of clinical origin. Due to the fact that it showed activity versus pathogenic bacteria, and because of its capabilities under ionic strength, temperature, and pH values present in food matrices, it could be applied as an additive in the food industry. This study will aid in the design of new antibacterial agents of natural origin to combat food-borne diseases, and it could be used as an industrial or hospital hygiene agent as well.

Seis tesis sobre complejidad y salud / Six thesis about complexity and health

La bibliografía sobre complejidad y medicina es amplia, sólida y creciente. Por ejemplo, cáncer y complejidad, o el funcionamiento del sistema nervioso central y complejidad, o el sistema inmunológico y complejidad. Sin embargo, en contraste, comparativamen-te, la bibliografía en el mundo sobre salud y complejidad es sumamente escasa.En este texto quisiera formular seis tesis acerca de salud, esto es, acerca de las re-laciones entre salud y vida, en fin, en otras palabras, en torno a las relaciones entre salud y complejidad. Se trata, simple y llanamente de ampliar los marcos de las puertas que conducen a pensar la salud ­ la salud, la vida, y no ya única y principalmente la enfermedad. Complejidad hace aquí referencia a las ciencias de la complejidad y no simplemente al pensamiento complejo.

Complejidad y salud pública. Marcos, problemas, referencias / Complexity and public health. Frames, problems, references / Complexidade e saúde pública, marcos, problemas, referências

Este artículo consiste en la formulación de una tesis: debemos poder pen-sar la salud, y no simplemente la enfermedad. Para ello, se presentan y discuten brevemente las diferentes revoluciones científicas habidas en la historia, conjuntamente con las revoluciones industriales. El artículo sus-tenta que es tan sólo en el marco de la tercera revolución científica en curso, que es posible y necesario pensar, por primera vez, en salud. Pues bien, la salud, se sostiene aquí, es información, de suerte que una política de salud y un manejo de la salud son manejo de información: por qué razón y cómo es lo que se estudia en el curso del texto.

This paper sets out the claim according to which it must be possible to think about health, and not any longer abut disease or sickness. In order to do so, the various scientific and industrial revolutions are briefly presented and discussed. This paper argues that it is only within the framework of the ongoing third scientific revolutions that it becomes feasible and necessary to think about health. To be sure, health is information, so much so that any policy and management of health follows thereafter. Why and how this is so will be elaborated along the following lines

Este artigo visa formular a seguinte tese: devemos poder pensar a saúde para além da doença. Visando aprofundar nesta dis-cussão são apresentadas e debatidas brevemente as diferentes revoluções industriais. O artigo afirma que é apenas na terceira revolução científica em curso, que é possível e se fez necessá-rio pensar, pela primeira vez, na saúde. Se bem que a saúde se define como informação, uma política de saúde supõe lidar com informação. O porquê e o como são objeto do presen-te texto.

Expression, purification, and characterization of a bifunctional 99-kDa peptidoglycan hydrolase from Pediococcus acidilactici ATCC 8042.

Pediococcus acidilactici ATCC 8042 is a lactic acid bacteria that inhibits pathogenic microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus through the production of two proteins with lytic activity, one of 110 kDa and the other of 99 kDa. The 99-kDa one has high homology to a putative peptidoglycan hydrolase (PGH) enzyme reported in the genome of P. acidilactici 7_4, where two different lytic domains have been identified but not characterized. The aim of this work was the biochemical characterization of the recombinant enzyme of 99 kDa. The enzyme was cloned and expressed successfully and retains its activity against Micrococcus lysodeikticus. It has a higher N-acetylglucosaminidase activity, but the N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase can also be detected spectrophotometrically. The protein was then purified using gel filtration chromatography. Antibacterial activity showed an optimal pH of 6.0 and was stable between 5.0 and 7.0. The optimal temperature for activity was 60 °C, and all activity was lost after 1 h of incubation at 70 °C. The number of strains susceptible to the recombinant 99-kDa enzyme was lower than that susceptible to the mixture of the 110- and 99-kDa PGHs of P. acidilactici, a result that suggests synergy between these two enzymes. This is the first PGH from LAB that has been shown to possess two lytic sites. The results of this study will aid in the design of new antibacterial agents from natural origin that can combat foodborne disease and improve hygienic practices in the industrial sector.

Crisis de la bioética y bioética en medio de las crisis / Crisis of bioethics and bioethics in the midst of crises / Crise da bioética e a bioética no meio da crise

Bioethics is currently in the midst of a deep crisis. A review of the state-of-the art clealry shows that the discipline has been encountering a number of hurdels both in its social significance as well as in its scientific and epistemological concern. Simultaneously, human living and societies are living a number of intertwined crises all around. This paper argues that both phenomena are deeply related and studies the reasons and consequences...

La bioética se encuentra actualmente en medio de una profunda crisis. Una revisión del estado del arte muestra que esta disciplina ha venido encontrando una serie de obstáculos tanto con respecto a su significado social como con respecto a su propio estatuto científico y epistemológico. Al mismo tiempo, los seres humanos y las sociedades se encuentran inmersas en una serie de crisis entrelazadas entre sí. Este artículo sostiene que ambos fenómenos se hallan profundamente relacionados y estudia las razones y las consecuencias de ello...

Atualmente a Bioética se encontra dentro de uma profunda crise. Uma revisão do estado da arte mostra que esta disciplina vem encontrando uma série de obstáculos, tanto em relação ao seu significado social como em relação ao seu próprio estatuto científico e epistemológico. Ao mesmo tempo, os seres humanos e as sociedades estão imersos em uma série de crises interligadas entre si. Este artigo sustenta que ambos os fenômenos se encontram profundamente relacionados e estuda os motivos e consequências disso...

Ética sin metafísica: ¿y la bioética qué? / Ética sem metafísica: e o que acontece com a bioética? / Ethics wihout metaphysics: and what about bioethiscs?

La filosofía ha asistido a un proceso largo mediante el cual numerosas disciplinas se han independizado de ella, tales como la estética, la lógica, y la historia. Prácticamente todas las disciplinas tradicionales que alguna vez pertenecieron a la filosofía se han convertido actualmente en ciencias o disciplinas independientes. Sin embargo, el único campo que permanece al interior de la filosofía es la ética o la moral. El resultado es que la ética o la moral cumplen las veces de la metafísica. Este artículo argumenta a favor de la posibilidad de una ética sin metafísica. Al final, surge la pregunta: si ello es así, ¿qué sucede entonces con la bioética? La razón que motiva este interrogante tiene que ver con las relaciones intrínsecas entre ética y bioética...

Philosophy has been watching for a while how various disciplines have become independent from her, namely aesthetics, logics, history. Nearly all traditional disciplines that once belonged to philosophy are nowadays a sciences or a discipline on its own. Yet, the only one that still remains within philosophy is ethics, i.e. morality. The outcome is that ethics, i. e. morality is pervaded by metaphysics. This paper claims for the possibility of an ethics without metaphysics. At the end, the question is raised: if so, what about biothics? The reason that motivates the question has to do with the inner relationships between ethics and bioethics...

A filosofia tem assistido um longo processo através do qual inúmeras disciplinas dela se independizaram, tais como, a estética, a lógica, a história. Praticamente todas as disciplinas tradicionais, que alguma vez pertenceram à filosofia, são hoje ciências ou disciplinas independentes. Entretanto, o único campo que permanece dentro da filosofia é o da ética ou moral. O resultado é que a ética ou a moral cumprem as vezes da metafísica. Este artigo argumenta a favor da possibilidade de uma ética sem metafísica. No final, surge a pergunta: se é assim, o que acontece então com a bioética? A razão que motiva esta pergunta tem a ver com as relações intrínsecas entre ética e bioética...

Evolución, teoraa de las extinciones, complejidad / Evolution, Theory of Extinctions, Complexity

Este texto discute la posibilidad del desarrollo de una teoría de las extinciones, una teoría inexistente hasta la fecha, y que vendría a ser la contraparte o el complemento de la teoría de la evolución. El problema central es el de la exploración de una teoría general de la complejidad, una tarea que permanece abierta e inconclusa hasta el momento. La paleontología y la biología evolutiva pueden verse como las dos caras de una moneda cuyo rasgo distintivo no es el gradualismo, sino los equilibrios puntuados y el catastrofismo. El tema de las extinciones se concentra aquí en la importancia y el papel de las extinciones masivas. A partir del diálogo entre biología y paleontología, evolución y extinciones, varias reflexiones se extrapolan al plano social, cultural y filosófico. El marco amplio es el de las ciencias de la complejidad.

This paper discusses the possibility of reaching a theory of extinctions, a theory nonexistent so far that can be taken as complementary to the theory of evolution. The core problem is here the exploration of the general theory of complexity, a task that remains open and without a definite conclusion until now. Paleontology and biology can be grasped as the two faces of one and the same token whose most salient feature is punctuated equilibria and catastrophism, and not gradualism any longer. Extinctions are viewed here particularly as massive extinctions. After the dialogue between paleontology and biology, evolution and extinctions, a number of reflections are extrapolated to the social, cultural and philosophical framework. The general context hence is the one provided by the sciences of complexity.

El dilema de la cohesión social: Redes Sociales e Instituciones / The dilemma of the social cohesion: social networks and institutions

El problema de la cohesión puede ser tanto extendido como traducido a otros lenguajes, con lo cual se gana en comprensión de aquello de lo cual se trata a propósito de la cohesión social.

The problem of the cohesion can as much be extended as translated to other languages, consequently it gains in understanding of that one which it is with regard to the social cohesion.

La heurística de la vida artificial / Heuristic of the artificial life

Este artículo explora el significado y los alcances de la vida artificial (VA) desde el punto de vista de su valor heurístico. Luego de una caracterización puntual acerca de qué define a la vida artificial como programa de investigación científica y filosófica, se sugieren siete rasgos heurísticos de la VA válidos tanto para la ciencia como para la filosofía. La explosición de estos siete rasgos constituye la tesis de este texto. Posteriormente se intenta una síntesis de esos siete rasgos y se concluye con una inscripción del programa de investigación en VA para la cultura contemporánea.