Redes comunitarias de cuidadores: acompañamiento a la movilización ciudadana para el cuidado compasivo / Community networks: facilitating the community empowerment towards compassionate care

RESUMEN Objetivo Presentar un proceso de aproximación y movilización de la comunidad para la creación de una red barrial de cuidadores en Medellín, Colombia. Métodos La sistematización de la promoción de la red barrial de cuidadores se realizó siguiendo las fases de acompañamiento según la clínica comunitaria: aproximación a la comunidad, generación de formas terapéuticas clínico-comunitarias y comprensión del proceso desde esta perspectiva. Se empleó la rehabilitación basada en la comunidad como método de trabajo. Resultados La necesidad de formación para el cuidado y la organización familiar son los mayores retos de los cuidadores de la comunidad. Los participantes tienen presente la importancia de crear redes de apoyo y han adquirido conocimientos prácticos que les son útiles en la cotidianidad y que sientan las bases para la futura construcción de red. Conclusiones La experiencia de construcción de una red barrial genera reflexiones e interrogantes alrededor de las metodologías utilizadas y de las necesidades comunitarias reales alrededor del cuidado. A pesar de las dificultades en relación con la acción colectiva, la cohesión grupal y la asistencia a los encuentros, el acompañamiento que se realizó ha dejado reflexiones para los cuidadores y conocimientos prácticos en torno al cuidado.

ABSTRACT Objective To present the process of contact and mobilization of a community, seeking to facilitate the development of a caregiving network in Medellín, Colombia. Method The systematization process of the caregiving network's promotion was conducted according to the phases of clinical community involvement: contact with the community, clinical-community therapeutic modalities and analysis of the process. The method emplo-yed was community-based rehabilitation. Results Training needs and family organization towards caregiving are the caregivers' major challenges are. The participants are aware of the relevance of creating support networks and have acquired practical knowledge useful to fulfill their daily needs, which are the foundations for future network development. Conclusions The experience of promoting the development of a community network brings insights and concerns regarding the methods used and the actual caregiving needs of the community. Despite the difficulties encountered with collective actions, group cohesion and assistance to community gatherings, caregivers were able to reflect upon and learn about caregiving networks.

Dataset on technological alliances by using joint patents in the biotechnology industry.

The data in this article includes biotechnological joint patents as a proxy of technological alliances. Joint patents are not directly found in public or commercial databases. Each joint patent has their corresponding International Patent Classification codes, their forward citation measure as an indicator of innovation value, and the firms involved in the process. The data was collected during a time frame that ranges from 2006 to 2010. Data from the joint biotechnological patents was collected at first during the time window, and then filtered, cleaned, and sampled accordingly to obtain 340 joint patents between firms (e.g. alliances) in the industry. Then each of the joint patents was processed to find the forward citations they have. Data on joint patents of biotechnology industry can be reused in future studies related to technological alliances and patenting mechanisms and process.

Disruption in connexin-based communication is associated with intracellular Ca²âº signal alterations in astrocytes from Niemann-Pick type C mice.

Reduced astrocytic gap junctional communication and enhanced hemichannel activity were recently shown to increase astroglial and neuronal vulnerability to neuroinflammation. Moreover, increasing evidence suggests that neuroinflammation plays a pivotal role in the development of Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease, an autosomal lethal neurodegenerative disorder that is mainly caused by mutations in the NPC1 gene. Therefore, we investigated whether the lack of NPC1 expression in murine astrocytes affects the functional state of gap junction channels and hemichannels. Cultured cortical astrocytes of NPC1 knock-out mice (Npc1⁻/⁻) showed reduced intercellular communication via gap junctions and increased hemichannel activity. Similarly, astrocytes of newborn Npc1⁻/⁻ hippocampal slices presented high hemichannel activity, which was completely abrogated by connexin 43 hemichannel blockers and was resistant to inhibitors of pannexin 1 hemichannels. Npc1⁻/⁻ astrocytes also showed more intracellular Ca²âº signal oscillations mediated by functional connexin 43 hemichannels and P2Y1 receptors. Therefore, Npc1⁻/⁻ astrocytes present features of connexin based channels compatible with those of reactive astrocytes and hemichannels might be a novel therapeutic target to reduce neuroinflammation in NPC disease.