Effect of vitamin E and C supplementation on oxidative damage and total antioxidant capacity in lead-exposed workers.

The molecular response of the antioxidant system and the effects of antioxidant supplementation against oxidative insult in lead-exposed workers has not been sufficiently studied. In this work, antioxidants (vitamin E 400 IU+vitamin C 1g/daily) were supplemented for one year to 15 workers exposed to lead (73 µg of lead/dl of blood) and the results were compared with those on 19 non-lead exposed workers (6.7 µg of lead/dl). Lead intoxication was accompanied by a high oxidative damage and an increment in the erythrocyte antioxidant response due to increased activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase. Antioxidant supplementations decreased significantly the oxidative damage as well as the total antioxidant capacity induced by lead intoxication with reduction of the antioxidant enzyme activities. We conclude that antioxidant supplementation is effective in reducing oxidative damage and induces modifications in the physiopathological status of the antioxidant response in lead-exposed workers.

[The scope of educational strategy in teaching education of visiting professors]. / Alcante de la estrategia de visita de profesores para formación docente.

INTRODUCTION: Professors of Medicine usually lack teaching education apart from their speciality. This kind of education and the development of researchers in education are now a priority. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the scope of the visit of professors in the development of aptitude for critical reading of reports on educational research and educational texts in a teaching-education program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An educational strategy was implemented to promote the development of a stance on education and on aptitudes for criticism of educational texts and research reports, which were assessed by means of previously validated instruments. A group of 10 professors was studied. RESULTS: After the course, all the participants increased their scores. A p = 0.005 value was obtained with the Wilcoxon test in the three instruments applied. All the participants showed a stance on education in the retest. CONCLUSIONS: The educational strategy modified and increased the professors' stance on education. The results showed a significant change of stance for critical reading. Even though they are incipient, these results should be encouraged through continuing formation of teaching education.