Premisas, aportes y desafíos metodológicos de la investigación etnográfica en salud mental / Premises, contributions and methodological challenges ethnographic research in mental health

La reflexividad metodológica como centro articulador de la investigación cualitativa permite definir y consolidar el posicionamiento epistemológico, teórico y ético-político de los investigadores. Este artículo reflexiona sobre los aportes y desafíos de la etnogra-fía como herramienta teórica metodológica y escritural para acercarse a la comprensión de la atención de la salud mental en el Primer Nivel de Atención, en el estado de Tabasco, México. El ejercicio presenta la toma de decisiones y dilemas hallados en el trabajo de campo; discute las implicaciones ético-políticas de trabajar con diseños etnográficos y expresa una serie de posicionamientos asumidos a lo largo de la investigación. Finalmente, plantea la urgencia de reflexionar ética, cultural y afectivamente en la investigación etnográfica en salud metal y llama la atención sobre los desafíos emocionales de trabajar con poblaciones en situación de vulnerabilidad, como los pueblos originarios y los enfermos mentales.(AU)

Methodological reflexivity as an articulator center in qualitative research allows us to define and consolidate the epistemological, theoretical and ethical-political positioning of researchers. This paper reflects about contributions and challenges of ethnography as theoretical, methodological and scriptural tool to approach the understanding about mental healthcare at First Level of Care in Tabasco state, Mexico. This exercise is about decisions and dilemmas faced at field work arguing about ethical-political implications of working using ethnographic al designs and expressing a series of position in assumed through this researching. Finally, it shows the urgent need of ethical, cultural and emotional reflection in to the ethnographic al researching in mental health besides to draw attention to emotional challenges of working with vulnerable populations such as native people and mental ills.(AU)

A nanoemulsion/micelles mixed nanosystem for the oral administration of hydrophobically modified insulin.

The potential of nanoemulsions for the oral administration of peptides is still in its early stage. The aim of the present work was to rationally design, develop, and fully characterize a new nanoemulsion (NE) intended for the oral administration of hydrophobically modified insulin (HM-insulin). Specific components of the NE were selected based on their enhancing permeation properties as well as their ability to improve insulin association efficiency (Miglyol 812, sodium taurocholate), stability in the intestinal fluids, and mucodiffusion (PEGylated phospholipids and poloxamer 407). The results showed that the NE co-existed with a population of micelles, forming a mixed system that exhibited a 100% of HM-insulin association efficiency. The nanosystem showed good stability and miscibility in different bio-relevant media and displayed an acceptable mucodiffusive behavior in porcine mucus. In addition, it exhibited a high interaction with cell mono-cultures (Caco -2 and C2BBe1 human colon carcinoma Caco-2 clone cells) and co-cultures (C2BBe1 human colon carcinoma Caco-2 clone/HT29-MTX cells). The internalization in Caco-2 monolayers was also confirmed by confocal microscopy. Finally, the promising in vitro behavior of the nanosystem in terms of overcoming the biological barriers of the intestinal tract was translated into a moderate, although significant, hypoglycemic response (≈ 20-30%), following intestinal administration to both healthy and diabetic rat models. Overall, this information underlines the crucial steps to address when designing peptide-based nanoformulations to successfully overcome the intestinal barriers associated to the oral modality of administration.

Design and validation of an immuno-PCR assay for IFN-α2b quantification in human plasma.

Aim: Nowadays, IFN-α is considered a promising therapeutic target for systemic lupus erythematosus. An immuno-PCR (iPCR) was developed to quantify low amounts of IFN-α in human plasma followed by a deep analysis of the methodologic robustness throughout quality by design approach. Results: An accurate, sensitive, selective and versatile iPCR was validated. The critical iPCR procedural steps were identified, applying a Plackett-Burman design. Also, this assay demonstrated an outstanding LOD of 0.3 pg/ml. A significant aspect relies on its high versatility to detect and quantify other cytokines in human plasma as the appropriate biotinylated antibody is employed. Conclusion: This reliable iPCR assay can be clinically used as an alternative method for quantitating and detecting low IFN-α2b concentrations in human plasma samples.

Development of High-Level Echinocandin Resistance in a Patient With Recurrent Candida auris Candidemia Secondary to Chronic Candiduria.

OBJECTIVE: Candida auris is a globally emerging pathogen associated with significant mortality. This pathogen frequently is misidentified by traditional biochemical methods and is resistant to commonly used antifungals. The echinocandins currently are recommended as the first-line treatment for C. auris infections. The objective of this work is to demonstrate the challenges associated with C. auris in the real-world setting. METHODS: A 54-year-old male presented to our institution for concerns of sepsis on multiple occasions over a 5-month period. Eleven urine cultures were positive over this timeframe for yeast (9 unidentified Candida isolates and 2 C. lusitaniae isolates). On day 27, the patient developed echinocandin-susceptible candidemia, which was initially identified as C. haemulonii but later accurately identified as C. auris at an outside mycology reference laboratory. Approximately 10 weeks later, the patient had a recurrence of candidemia, this time caused by an echinocandin-resistant C. auris strain. RESULTS: Genomic DNA sequencing performed at the outside mycology reference laboratory identified a single serine to proline base pair change at position 639 (S639P) in the hotspot 1 region of the FKS1 gene of the echinocandin-resistant strain. CONCLUSIONS: Our experiences highlight 4 major concerns associated with C. auris: misidentification, persistent colonization, infection recurrence despite the receipt of appropriate initial therapy, and development of resistance.