Resumen El punto de partida de esta investigación es la identificación de un vacío en la planificación y ordenación de las áreas de influencia de los embalses para la generación de energía, entendidos como cuerpos de agua en los que se concentra una parte importante de la oferta de recursos hídricos. Con base en la descripción de la problemática y la importancia de considerar los megaproyectos hidroeléctricos como unidades de análisis espacial, se propone la Capacidad de Acogida del Territorio como un herramienta metodológica para evaluar los impactos acumulativos, en tanto permite entender la configuración del territorio luego de la entrada en operación del proyecto hidroeléctrico. Esto puede convertirse en un insumo para la toma de decisiones con respaldo técnico que responda a la pregunta de qué hacer sosteniblemente en dichos territorios.

Resumé Le point de départ de cette recherche est l'identification d'un vide dans la planification et la gestion des zones d'influence des réservoirs pour la production d'énergie, dans lesquels une partie importante des ressources en eau est concentrée. Une description du problème et de l'importance de considérer les mégaprojets hydroélectriques comme des unités d'analyse spatiale est réalisée. Sur cette base, la capacité de réception de territoire est proposée comme outil méthodologique pour évaluer les impacts cumulés, car elle permet de comprendre la configuration du territoire après le début du projet hydroélectrique et contribue ainsi au processus de prise de décision qui examinent la question de savoir quoi faire de manière durable sur ces territoires.

Abstract The starting point of this research is the identification of a normative and technical gap in planning areas of influence of reservoirs for power generation, understood these as water bodies in which an important part of water supply resources is concentrated. In this sense, a description of the problem and the importance of considering hydroelectric megaprojects as spatial analysis units is made; then, the determination of the land carrying capacity is proposed as a methodological tool, since it is considered that it functions as an Accumulative Impact Assessment, inasmuch as it allows to understand the configuration of the territory after the start of operation of the hydroelectric project and, based on this information, become an input for decision-making with technical support, that answer the question of what to do sustainably in those territories.

Resumo O ponto de partida da investigação desenvolvida é a identificação de um vazio na planificação e no ordenamento de áreas de influência de barragens para a geração de energia, estas, entendidas como corpos d'água nos quais se concentra uma boa parte da oferta de recursos hídricos. Nesse sentido, faz-se uma descrição da problemática e a importância de considerar os megaprojetos hidrelétricos como unidades de análises espacial; a seguir, propõe-se como ferramenta metodológica a determinação da Capacidade de Acolhida do território, pois considera-se que esta funciona como uma Avaliação de Impactos Acumulativos, uma vez que permite entender a configuração do território logo da entrada em operação do projeto hidrelétrico e, com base nessa informação, tomar decisões com respaldo técnico que respondam à pregunta sobre o que fazer sustentavelmente nesses territórios.

Introduction: Whooping cough is a re-emerging infection in the world and Latin America. Objective: It was considered relevant to investigate the clinical and epidemiological profile of Bordetella spp. and Bordetella pertussis infection in Córdoba province, Argentina; evaluating, at the same time, the co-infection with virus producing respiratory infections that may be confused with whooping cough. Material and Methods: All whooping cough suspected cases were studied by Polimerase Chain Reaction, amplifying the repeated insertion sequence (IS) 481 and the promoter gene encoding pertussis toxin, between 2011 and 2013. The data were obtained from the clinical and epidemiological records. Results: From 2,588 whooping cough suspected cases, 11.59% was infected by Bordetella spp. and 9.16% was confirmed as Bordetella pertussis infection. The rate of infection was 7.22 and 1.84 per 100,000 for 2011 and 2012, respectively. The infection presented a seasonal tendency and it was mainly found on the group of children between 13 and 24 months old. The co-infection with virus producing respiratory infections, were uncommon. Paroxysmal cough, cyanosis and/or vomiting were predictors of the infection for Bordetella pertussis. Discussion and Conclusions: To deal with the re-emergence of whooping cough is important the knowledge of the regional epidemiological situation. This paper shows the situation of these infections in the regional clinical and epidemiological context, and makes the information available for health decision-making.

Introducción: Coqueluche es una enfermedad reemergente en el mundo y en Latinoamérica. Objetivo: Resultó de interés caracterizar el perfil clínico-epidemiológico de la infección por Bordetella spp. y Bordetella pertussis en Córdoba, Argentina; evaluando además, la frecuencia de infecciones de etiología viral que, por cursar con un síndrome coqueluchoide (SC), pueden ser confundidas con cuadros de coqueluche. Material y Métodos: Los casos sospechosos de coqueluche, se estudiaron por reacción de polimerasa en cadena; amplificando la secuencia repetida de inserción (IS) 481 y la región promotora del gen de la toxina pertussis; entre 2011 y 2013. Los datos de los pacientes se obtuvieron de las fichas clínicoepidemiológicas. Resultados: De 2.588 pacientes, 11,59% presentó una infección por Bordetella spp. y en 9,16% se confirmó una infección por Bordetella pertussis. La tasa de infección fue 7,22 y 1,84 por 100.000 habitantes en 2011 y 2012, respectivamente. La infección presentó una tendencia estacional y se concentró principalmente en niños entre 13 y 24 meses. La tos paroxística, cianosis y/o vómitos fueron predictores de la infección por B. pertussis. La coinfección con virus productores de infecciones respiratorias fue poco frecuente. Discusión y Conclusiones: Es fundamental el conocimiento de la situación epidemiológica regional. Este trabajo presenta la situación de Córdoba y pone a disposición de la comunidad sanitaria la información para la toma de decisiones en el contexto clínico-epidemiológico regional.

Vertical transmission is the main route of HIV infection in childhood. Because of the persistence of maternal HIV antibodies, virologic assays that directly detect HIV are required to diagnose HIV infection in infants younger than 18 months of age. The sensitivity of HIV RNA/DNA assays increases as the child becomes older. These tests have specificity values greater than 95 %. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the COBAS Taqman HIV-1 Test, v1.0 assay (Roche) and its concordance with a Multiplex Nested-PCR. Of 341 samples processed, 15 were positive and 326 negative by both methods. Sensitivity and specificity overall values for the viral load assay were 88.2 % and 100 %, respectively. Our results indicate that the COBAS Taqman assay evaluated could be used as an alternative method to diagnose HIV congenital infection.

La transmisión vertical es la principal vía de contagio del HIV en la edad pediátrica. El diagnóstico de la infección congénita antes de los 18 meses se realiza mediante ensayos virológicos: detección de genoma viral como ARN plasmático y ADN proviral. La sensibilidad de estos ensayos varía según la edad del niño, con valores de especificidad mayores al 95 %. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el desempeño del ensayo de carga viral (CV) COBAS Taqman HIV-1 Test, v1.0 (Roche), y su concordancia con una PCR múltiple anidada in-house para la detección del ADN proviral. De 341 muestras procesadas, 15 resultaron positivas y 326 negativas por ambas metodologías. Para la metodología de CV, la sensibilidad general fue del 88,2 % y la especificidad del 100 %. Nuestros resultados indican que la metodología de CV evaluada puede utilizarse como técnica alternativa para el diagnóstico de infección congénita por HIV.

The introduction of nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAT) in blood banks was intended to reduce the residual risk of transfusion-transmitted infections. Co-circulation of a great diversity of HIV-1 variants in Argentina portrays the need to assess the sensitivity of serological and molecular assays available for their detection. In this study, we evaluated the sensitivity of the COBAS AmpliScreenTM HIV-1 Test, version 1.5 (Roche) for the detection of HIV-1 RNA in plasma samples of infected individuals from Argentina. The results of this study reveal that this technique has high sensitivity for the detection of HIV-1 RNA under assay conditions: using mini-pool testing, pools = 50 RNA copies per ml achieved = 92 % sensitivity, whereas in the standard procedure, samples = 207 RNA copies/ ml achieved 100 % sensitivity. Moreover, the COBAS AmpliScreenTM HIV-1 Test, version 1.5 (Roche) is suitable for detecting prevailing HIV-1 variants.

Las técnicas de amplificación de ácidos nucleicos (NAT) se incorporaron en los bancos de sangre para reducir el riesgo residual de transmisión de infecciones por vía transfusional. La cocirculación de distintas variantes del HIV-1 en Argentina indica la necesidad de evaluar la sensibilidad de los ensayos serológicos y moleculares disponibles para su detección. En este trabajo se evaluó la sensibilidad del equipo COBAS AmpliScreenTM HIV-1 Test, versión 1.5 (Roche), para detectar ARN viral en plasmas de individuos infectados con HIV-1 de Argentina. Los resultados demuestran que esta técnica tiene una alta sensibilidad para detectar ARN de HIV-1 en las condiciones ensayadas: para ensayo de mini-pooles (pooles = 50 copias de ARN/ml), la sensibilidad fue = 92 %, y para procedimiento estándar (plasmas = 207 copias de ARN/ml), la sensibilidad fue 100 %. Además, la técnica COBAS AmpliScreenTM HIV-1 Test, versión 1.5 (Roche), es adecuada para la detección de las variantes de HIV-1 prevalentes.

Alternative algorithms were evaluated in order to reduce the number of false reactive results for antibodies against HTLV-1/2. From 20,210 samples tested, 0.37% (74/20,210) was reactive by ELISA Murex. Of these, 23 were confirmed as positive by the indirect immunofluorescence assay whereas 51 were negative, being the positive predictive value (PPV) 31.08%. From a combination of the ELISA Murex assay with the particle agglutination assay (PA) and ELISA MP, the following results were obtained: 26/74 were reactive by ELISA Murex and PA, PPV 88.5% and 32/74 were reactive by ELISA Murex and ELISA MP, PPV 71.8 %. The ROC curve analysis determined that for an RP 4.74, the values for sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV by ELISA Murex were 100%, 98.04%, 95.8% and 100%, respectively. We propose that reactive samples by ELISA Murex with an RP ≤ 4.74 should be retested in duplicate by PA, and the resulting concordantly nonreactive samples should be defined as negative for HTLV-1/2.

Con el objetivo de reducir el número de resultados falsos reactivos al determinar los anticuerpos contra HTLV-1/2, se evaluaron algoritmos alternativos. De 20 210 muestras estudiadas, el 0,37 % (74/20 210) fueron reactivas por ELISA Murex Abbott. De estas, 23 se confirmaron positivas por inmunofluorescencia indirecta y 51 fueron negativas; valor predictivo positivo (VPP) 31,08 %. Al combinar ELISA Murex con aglutinación de partículas de gelatina (AP) y con ELISA MP, se obtuvieron los siguientes resultados: 26/74 resultaron reactivas por Murex y AP, VPP 88,5 %, y 32/74 reactivas con Murex y ELISA MP, VPP 71,8 %. Del análisis de la curva ROC se determinó que para un valor de RP de 4,74 por Murex, la sensibilidad, la especificidad, el VPP y el VPN son 100 %, 98,04 %, 95,8 % y 100 %, respectivamente. Proponemos que las muestras reactivas por ELISA Murex con RP ≤ 4,74 sean retesteadas por duplicado por AP, y que las que resulten concordantemente no reactivas sean definidas como negativas para HTLV-1/2.

Desde el segundo semestre de 2011, el semillero Movimientos Sociales y Comunicación Alternativa, de la Facultad de Comunicación Social para la Paz de la Universidad Santo Tomás, ha adelantado un trabajo de formación de investigadores en el campo de la comunicación alternativa, los movimientos sociales y la memoria. De este ejercicio deriva el presente artículo, que da cuenta del proyecto desarrollado por las semilleristas en el primer semestre de 2012: "Comunicación Alternativa y Memoria", que se llevó a cabo a partir de la propuesta radial 1430. Esta propuesta tuvo como objetivos vincularse a la Red de Comunicadoras y Comunicadores de San Cristóbal, Loma Sur, y preguntarse por las dimensiones de la memoria que pueden explorarse desde prácticas radiales alternativas, entendidas como espacios de comunicación distintos a los tradicionales y masivos. En este artículo, además, se hace referencia, eventualmente, a algunas de las investigaciones en aula sobre movimientos sociales y comunicación alternativa, en la medida en que amplían y problematizan los temas de interés del semillero.

Since the second half of 2011, the Social Movements and Alternative Communication hotbed, from the Faculty of Social Communication for Peace of Universidad Santo Tomás, has conducted a training work for researchers in the field of alternative communication, social movements and memory. From this exercise, this article is originated and it describes a research project developed by the members of the hotbed during the first half of 2012: "Alternative Communication and Memory", which was based on the 1430 radial proposal. This proposal aimed to be linked to the Communicators Network of San Cristóbal, Loma Sur, and to ask for the size of memory that can be explored from alternative radio practices, understood as communication spaces different from the traditional and massive spaces. This article also refers to some classroom research on social movements and alternative media, to the extent that they expand and problematize the issues that the hotbed concerns on.

Desde o segundo semestre de 2011, o sementeiro Movimentos Sociais e Comunicação Alternativa, da Faculdade de Comunicação Social para a Paz da Universidad Santo Tomás, tem adiantado um trabalho de formação de pesquisadores no campo da comunicação alternativa, os movimentos sociais e a memória. Deste exercício deriva este artigo, que descreve um projeto de pesquisa desenvolvido pelos sementeireiros no primeiro semestre de 2012: "Comunicação Alternativa e Memória", que teve lugar a partir da proposta radial 1430. Esta proposta teve como objetivos vincular-se à Rede de Comunicadoras e comunicadores de San Cristóbal, Loma Sur, e perguntar-se pelas dimensões da memoria que podem-se explorar a partir de práticas radiais alternativas, entendidas como espaços de comunicação diferentes do que os tradicionais e massivos. Neste artigo, além do mais, refere-se, eventualmente, para algumas das pesquisas em sala de aula sobre os movimentos sociais e comunicação alternativa, na medida em que se expandem e problematizam os temas de interesse no sementeiro.

At the time of influenza A (H1N1) emergency, the WHO responded with remarkable speed by releasing guidelines and a protocol for a real-time RT-PCR assay (rRT-PCR). The aim of the present study was to evalúate the performance of the "Real Time Ready Influenza A/H1N1 Detection Set" (June 2009)-Roche kit in comparison to the CDC reference rRT-PCR protocol. The overall sensitivity of the Roche assay for detection of the Inf A gene in the presence or absence of the H1 gene was 74.5 %. The sensitivity for detecting samples that were only positive for the Inf A gene (absence of the H1 gene) was 53.3 % whereas the sensitivity for H1N1-positive samples (presence of the Inf A gene and any other swine gene) was 76.4 %. The specificity of the assay was 97.1 %. A new version of the kit (November 2009) is now available, and a recent evaluation of its performance showed good sensitivity to detect pandemic H1N1 compared to other molecular assays.

Durante la pandemia de influenza A (H1N1), la OMS recomendó algoritmos y protocolos de detección del virus mediante RT-PCR en tiempo real. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el desempeño del equipo que comercializa la empresa Roche, Real Time Ready Influenza A/H1N1 Detection Set (junio de 2009), en comparación con el protocolo de RT-PCR en tiempo real de los CDC. La sensibilidad global del ensayo de Roche para la detección del gen Inf A en presencia o ausencia del gen H1 fue 74,5 %. La sensibilidad para la detección de muestras positivas solo para el gen Inf A (ausencia del gen H1) fue 53,3 % y la sensibilidad para la detección de muestras positivas para H1N1 (presencia del gen Inf A y cualquier otro gen porcino) fue 76,4 %. La especificidad fue 97,1 %. Existe una nueva versión del equipo (noviembre 2009) que, según se ha descrito, presenta buena sensibilidad en comparación con otros ensayos moleculares para detectar H1N1 pandémica.

This study was conducted to compare among the most recent generation of five screening tests licensed in Argentina, in order to evaluate which of the tests has the best sensitivity for detection of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV). The tests analyzed were: Detect-HCV™ (3.0) Biochem ImmunoSystems, Canada; Hepatitis C EIA Wiener Lab., Argentina; Equipar HCV Ab, Italy; Murex HCV 4.0, UK and Serodia-HCV particles agglutination test, Japan. The results obtained showed high discrepancy between the different kits used and show that some of the tests assessed have a low sensitivity for anti-HCV detection in both chronic infections and early seroconversion, and indicate that among the commercially available kits in Argentina, Murex HCV 4.0 (UK) and Serodia-HCV particles agglutination test (Japan) have the best sensitivity for HCV screening. Although the sensitivity of the assays is the first parameter to be considered for blood screening, more studies should be carried out to assess the specificity of such assays.

This study aimed at implementing a Nested-polymerase chain reaction (Nested-PCR) for the molecular diagnosis of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I/II (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) infections in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of infected subjects in Argentina. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay for the detection of regional strains were assessed by comparing them with the molecular assay of reference PCR-hybridization. The Nested-PCR detected 1 MT-2 cell (³ 8 proviral copies)/1x106 non-infected cells showing high sensitivity for provirus detection. While both molecular assays showed high specificity (100%) for HTLV-I and HTLV-II detection, the sensitivity values differed: 100% for Nested-PCR and 67% for PCR-hybridization assay. Moreover, this technique showed less sensitivity for the detection of DNA sequences of HTLV-II (33%) than for the detection of DNA sequences of HTLV-I (75%). The high sensitivity and specificity of the Nested-PCR for regional strains and its low costs indicate that this assay could replace the PCR-hybridization assay for the molecular diagnosis of HTLV-I/II infections. It will be interesting to assess the usefulness of this assay as a tool for the molecular diagnosis of HTLV-I/II infections in other developing countries. Other studies that include a greater number of samples should be conducted.

Amostras de soro sangüíneo (n: 110) de indivíduos de comportamento de risco e doadores de sangue da cidade de Córdoba, na Argentina, com perfis de reactividade para HIV-1 e HTLV-I/II indeterminada por Western blot (Wb), foram estudadas para anticorpos específicos contra HTLV-I/II e HIV-1 por meio do Ensaio de Imunofluorescência Indireta (IFI). Este estudo foi realizado para caracterizar as reações putativas com proteínas HIV-1 e HTLV-I/II e resolver o estado da infecção por retrovírus destes indivíduos. Os resultados mostram que os soros dos doadores sangüíneos que apresentam padrões indeterminados para HTLV-I/II e HIV-1 no Wb não são reagentes contra HTLV-I/II e HIV-1 por IFI. Mas, um alto índice de amostras de individuos com alto risco com resultado indeterminado no Wb para HIV-1 e HTLV-I/II apresentaram resultados positivos para HTLV-I/II e HIV-1 por IFI, respectivamente. Nosso estudo sugere que a reatividade indeterminada para HTLV-HIV na população de baixo risco deve-se a uma reação cruzada contra antígenos não virais; e que na população de alto risco as amostras indeterminadas apresentam reação cruzada entre as proteínas HIV-1 e HTLV-I/II no Wb. Estes resultados indicam que se faz preciso pesquisar a reatividade de HTLV-I/II nas amostras indeterminadas de HIV-1 e vice-versa, para confirmar o diagnóstico. Por último, este trabalho mostra a utilidade potencial da IFI para determinar o estado de infecção HIV-1 e HTLV-I/II dos indivíduos com perfis indeterminados por Wb, permitindo assim, a resolução do estado real de infecção por retrovírus.

Serum samples (n: 110) from blood donors and high risk individuals from Cordoba, Argentina with indeterminate HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II Wb profiles were studied for specific antibodies to HTLV-I/II and HIV-1 by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and for the presence or absence of HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II specific bands by Wb. This study was carried out in order to characterize their putative reactions with HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II proteins and to resolve the retrovirus infection status of these individuals. Results indicated that blood donors sera displaying indeterminate HIV-1 or HTLV-I/II Wb patterns were not immunoreactive to HTLV-I/II and HIV-1 on IFA. However, a high rate of indeterminate HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II Wb samples from high risk individuals had positive HTLV-I/II and HIV-1 IFA results respectively. Our study supports the growing evidence that HTLV-HIV indeterminate seroreactivity in low risk population is due to a cross reaction against nonviral antigens, and in high risk populations the indeterminate samples show serological cross-recognition between HIV-1 proteins and HTLV-I/II proteins on Wb. These results point out the necessity to investigate the HTLV-I/II reactivity in indeterminate HIV-1 samples and viceversa in order to confirm the diagnosis. Finally, this study shows the potential usefulness of IFA in elucidating the status of HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II infection of individuals with indeterminate Wb profiles, thus enabling resolution of retrovirus infection status.

Avaliou-se a eficiência da técnica de Imunofluorescência Indireta (IFI) como método confirmatório no diagnóstico da infecção por HIV-1 e HTLV-I/II. Para isto, processaram-se amostras com sorologia positiva ou negativa por Western blot (Wb) para ambos vírus, pertencentes a populações em diferentes graus de risco de adquirir a infecção e determinaram-se os valores de sensibilidade, especificidade, valores preditivos positivo e negativo e o índice de concordância Kappa da IFI para cada sistema viral em comparação com o Wb. Como fontes de antígenos da IFI empregaram-se as linhas celulares H9 (HTLV-III b), MT-2 e MT-4 (persistentemente infectadas com HTLV-I), MO-T (persistentemente infectadas com HTLV-II). Os valores globais de sensibilidade e especificidade para o sistema HIV-1, foram 96,80% e 98,60% respectivamente, enquanto os valores preditivos positivo e negativo 99,50% e 92,00% respectivamente. Não foram achadas diferenças na eficiência da técnica para a detecção de anticorpos anti HIV-1 entre as diversas populações estudadas. A respeito do sistema MT-2-HTLV-I os valores achados de sensibilidade e especificidade da IFI foram de 97,91% e 100% respectivamente sendo os valores preditivos positivo e negativo de 100% e 97,92% respectivamente. Do mesmo jeito para o sistema HTLV se demonstrou que a IFI implementada foi mais sensível quando se defrontaram as amostras com os dois antígenos virais (HTLV-I e HTLV-II) simultaneamente. A concordância global entre a IFI versus Wb para o sistema HIV-1 e HTLV foi ótima (índices de Kappa 0,93 e 0,98 respectivamente). Estes resultados indicam que a IFI é uma técnica altamente sensível e específica resultando adequada para o diagnóstico confirmatório da infecção pelos retrovirus humanos HIV-1 e HTLV-I/II em populações em diferentes graus de risco, podendo substituir ao Wb no algoritmo proposto para o diagnóstico sorológico da infecção por estes agentes.

We compared the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) with Western blot (Wb) as a confirmatory method to detect antibodies anti retrovirus (HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II). Positive and negative HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II serum samples from different risk populations were studied. Sensitivity, specificity, positive, negative predictive and kappa index values were assayed, to assess the IFA efficiency versus Wb. The following cell lines were used as a source of viral antigens: H9 ( HTLV-III b); MT-2 and MT-4 (persistently infected with HTLV-I) and MO-T (persistently infected with HTLV-II). Sensitivity and specificity rates for HIV-1 were 96.80% and 98.60% respectively, while predictive positive and negative values were 99.50% and 92.00% respectively. No differences were found in HIV IFA performance between the various populations studied. As for IFA HTLV system, the sensitivity and specificity values were 97.91% and 100% respectively with positive and negative predictive values of 100% and 97.92%. Moreover, the sensitivity of the IFA for HTLV-I/II proved to be higher when the samples were tested simultaneously against both antigens (HTLV-I-MT-2 and HTLV-II-MO-T). The overall IFA efficiency for HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II-MT-2 antibody detection probed to be very satisfactory with an excellent correlation with Wb (Kappa indexes 0.93 and 0.98 respectively). These results confirmed that the IFA is a sensitive and specific alternative method for the confirmatory diagnosis of HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II infection in populations at different levels of risk to acquire the infection and suggest that IFA could be included in the serologic diagnostic algorithm.