La Alianza del Pacífico y los Brics: dos modelos de competitividad país / The Pacific Alliance and the Brics: two Models of Country Competitiveness / A Aliança do Pacífico e os Brics: dois modelos de competitividade do país

Resumen Introducción. La importancia de esta investigación radica en el comportamiento de los países pertenecientes a los dos grupos durante el periodo 2012-2017 en materia de competitividad y cómo está variable les ha permitido posicionarse a nivel mundial. Objetivo. En este artículo se analizó la existencia de diferencias significativas en los modelos de competitividad de los bloques económicos (Alianza del Pacífico y el BRICS) utilizando como variables discriminatorias los doce pilares del índice de competitividad global del Foro Económico Mundial. Materiales y métodos. La metodología utilizada es cuantitativa, analítica y utiliza la técnica estadística del análisis discriminante como mecanismo para determinar qué variables permiten una clasificación eficaz respecto a la pertenencia de los países a un bloque u otro. Resultados. Los resultados obtenidos denotaron que de las doce (12) variables introducidas en el modelo, solo seis (6)-entorno macroeconômico, salud y educación primaria, educación superior y formación, eficiencia del mercado laboral, desarrollo del mercado financiero y tamaño del mercado- tienen un componente discriminatorio en materia de competitividad país. Conclusiones. El modelo para medir la competitividad país resultó significativo, permitiendo tener una elevada capacidad predictiva ya que el cien por ciento de la clasificación fue correcta.

Abstract Introduction: The importance of this research lies in the behavior of the countries belonging to the two groups during the 20122017 period in terms of competitiveness and how this variable has allowed them to position themselves at a global level. Objective: This article analyzes the existence of significant differences in the competitiveness models of the economic blocs (Pacific Alliance and BRICS) using as discriminatory variables the twelve pillars of the global competitiveness index of the World Economic Forum. Materials and methods: The methodology used is quantitative analytical and uses the statistical technique of discriminant analysis as a mechanism to determine which variables allow an effective classification with respect to the countries belonging to one bloc or another. Results: The results obtained denoted that of the twelve (12) variables introduced in the model, only six (6)-macroeconomic environment, health and primary education, higher education and training, labor market efficiency, financial market development and size of the market, have a discriminatory component in terms of country competitiveness. Conclusions: The model to measure country competitiveness was significant, allowing to have a high predictive capacity since one hundred percent of the classification was correct.

Resumo Introdução. A importância desta pesquisa radica no comportamento dos países pertencentes aos dois grupos durante o período 2012-2017 na matéria de competitividade e como essa variável tem-lhes permitido se posicionar ao nível mundial. Objetivo. Neste artigo analisou-se a existência das diferenças significativas nos modelos de competitividade dos blocos económicos (Aliança do Pacífico e o BRICS) utilizando como variáveis discriminatórias os doze pilares do índice de competitividade global do Foro Económico Mundial. Materiais e métodos. A metodologia utilizada é quantitativa, analítica e utiliza a técnica estatística da análise discriminante como mecanismo para determinar quais variáveis permitem uma classificação eficaz respeito à pertencia dos países à um bloco ou outro. Resultados. Os resultados obtidos denotaram que das doze (12) variáveis introduzidas no modelo, somente seis (6)-entorno macroeconómico, saúde e educação primária, educação superior e formação, eficiência do mercado laboral, desenvolvimento do mercado financeiro e o tamanho do mercado-tem um componente discriminatório na matéria de competitividade do país. Conclusões. O modelo para medir a competitividade do país resultou significativo, permitindo ter uma elevada capacidade preditiva já que o cento por cento da classificação foi correto.

Helicobacter pylori: bacterial factors and the role of cytokines in the immune response.

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative micro-aerophilic bacterium that is widely distributed geographically and causes chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastric adenocarcinoma, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Bacterial virulence factors play an important role, since the virulent strains are more aggressive and increase the risk of developing severe clinical manifestations; in addition, other determinant factors are the nutritional state and the immune response of the host. Studies on humans, non-human primates, and rodents have reported that regulating proteins of the Th1 phenotype predominate in the immune response to the bacterial infection. The cytokines produced by this phenotype, are not very effective in eradicating the microorganism and furthermore, contribute to gastro-duodenal pathogenesis. Gastric inflammation in patients infected with H. pylori has been characterized by increased production of IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, IL-18, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma. Many prophylactic and therapeutic strategies have been researched using experimental animals. The utilization and effectiveness of vaccination on humans requires more study.

Effect of knee osteoarthritis on the perception of quality of life in Venezuelan patients.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the perception of quality of life in Venezuelan patients with knee osteoarthritis and to identify those variables that may influence it. METHODS: A multicenter, cross-sectional study of 126 mestizo patients with knee osteoarthritis recruited from 8 rheumatology centers in Venezuela. We used a Spanish-translated version of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS), as adapted in Venezuela. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the AIMS mean total score among subgroups of knee pain, anatomic stage, and socioeconomic status (SES); a post-hoc test was performed to identify significant intragroup differences. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to examine correlations between age, body mass index (BMI), disease duration, knee pain, and AIMS score. Associations between radiologic stage, SES, and AIMS scores were examined using Spearman's rank correlation. Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate predictor factors of AIMS scores. RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between total AIMS scores and knee pain, age, and socioeconomic status, but not with BMI, disease duration, or anatomic stage. Patients with severe knee pain differed from those with mild and moderate pain, and the highest AIMS mean total score was seen in patients within the severe knee pain subset. Patients in the highest socioeconomic levels differed from those within lowest categories. Patients classified as being at the levels of relative and critical poverty showed the highest AIMS scores. Multiple regression analysis showed that knee pain was the only variable that exerted an independent effect on the quality of life in our patients. CONCLUSION: The perception of quality of life is negatively affected by increasing levels of joint pain, old age, and low socioeconomic status in Venezuelan patients with knee osteoarthritis. Our study supports the need for an early and vigorous approach to treat pain in this group of patients.