Historicamente a produção de conhecimento científico na Argentina é caracterizada por uma grande separação entre o setor produtivo e a investigação científica. No entanto, nos últimos anos podem se observar casos incipientes de inovação que articulam relações entre os investigadores e empresas. Particularmente interessa estudar o caso da agrobiotecnologia. Este trabalho é realizado no âmbito dos estudos sociais da ciência e a tecnologia e busca analisar as trajetórias de casos de laboratórios de pesquisa e desenvolvimento que têm projetos de transferência de tecnologia para empresas. O objetivo é caracterizar as estratégias desenvolvidas para orientar suas investigações nesse sentido. As conclusões gerais ilustram a existência de diferentes níveis de decisão que resultam fundamentais na realização da transferência de tecnologia. Essas decisões conformam estratégias onde os laboratórios conseguem fazer coexistir atividades de investigação e transferência.

Historically the production of scientific knowledge in Argentina is characterized by a large gap between industry and scientific research. However, in recent years it can be seen premature cases of innovation which articulate relationships between researchers and companies. It is particularly interesting the study of agrobiotechnology. The present work is carried out in the context of social studies of science and technology and it aims to analyze the trajectories of research and development laboratories cases which have projects in technology transfer to companies. The purpose is to characterize the strategies developed to guide their research in this direction. The general findings illustrate the existence of different levels of decision making that are key in achieving technology transfer. These decisions shape strategies which manage to coexist laboratory research and transfer.

Históricamente la producción de conocimiento científico en Argentina se caracteriza por una gran separación entre el sector productivo y la investigación científica. Sin embargo, en los últimos años se puede observar incipientes casos de innovación que articulan relaciones entre los investigadores y empresas. Particularmente interesa estudiar el caso de la agrobiotecnología. Este trabajo se realiza en el marco de los estudios sociales de la ciencia y la tecnología y busca analizar las trayectorias de casos de laboratorios de investigación y desarrollo que tienen proyectos de transferencia tecnológica hacia empresas. El objetivo consiste en caracterizar las estrategias que desarrollan para orientar sus investigaciones en ese sentido. Las conclusiones generales ilustran la existencia de distintos niveles de decisión que resultan claves en la realización de la transferencia tecnológica. Esas decisiones conforman estrategias donde los laboratorios logran hacer coexistir actividades de investigación y transferencia.

El presente estudio propone conocer la manera en la que los estudios del territorio brindan capacidades a los alumnos de educación superior, y la forma en la que los egresados contribuyen al desarrollo territorial desde su actual empleo, bajo el supuesto de que las capacidades individuales adquiridas en la formación educativa se transforman en colectivas y coadyuvan al desarrollo de los territorios. Se manejaron dos casos de estudio con información de los departamentos de docencia, y entrevistas semiestructuradas. Entre los resultados figuran que (a) los orígenes de las maestrías responden a demandas educativas locales, y tienen una fuerte vinculación con su entorno (desarrollo fronterizo y especialización municipal); (b) entre las capacidades de los egresados figuran un perfil interdisciplinario y habilidades cognitivas; (c) la constatación de la transformación de capacidades individuales a colectivas, si bien está condicionada a factores exógenos, los casos estudiados evidencian este pasaje sujeto siempre a los recursos en dónde se desarrollan.

A number of master degrees in Mexico include territory approaches in their programs in the main to provide specialized skills to their students so they can contribute on local development from their current jobs. The objective of this study lays in first place in determine the capacities that students from territory master degrees obtain, and in second place to show how their individual capacities transform into collective ones. Two case studies that make use of information from the departments of education, and semi-structured interviews were handled. The general results highlight: (a) territory master degrees respond to local education demands, and have a strong link to its with local context; (b) among the graduates, capacities stand the interdisciplinary and cognitive skills; (c) the transformation from individual to collective capabilities is conditioned by exogenous factors, however the case studies shows that this process always depends on the local resources in which they were developed.

O presente estudo propõe conhecer a maneira em que os estudos do território oferecem capacidades aos alunos de educação superior, e a forma em que os formados contribuem ao desenvolvimento territorial desde o seu atual emprego, sob o suposto que as capacidades individuais adquiridas na formação educativa se transformam em coletivas e coadjuvam ao desenvolvimento dos territórios. Utilizaram-se dois casos de estudo com informação dos departamentos de docência, e entrevistas semiestruturadas. Entre os resultados figuram (a) as origens dos mestrados respondem a demandas educativas locais, e têm uma fonte vinculação com o seu entorno (desenvolvimento fronteiriço e especialização municipal). (b) Entre as capacidades dos formados figuram: um perfil interdisciplinar e habilidades cognitivas. (c) A constatação da transformação de capacidades individuais à coletivas se bem está condicionada a fatores exógenos, os casos estudados evidenciam esta passagem sujeito sempre aos recursos onde se desenvolvem.

O conhecimento das principais fontes difusas de produção de sedimento pode aumentar a eficiência de utilização dos recursos públicos, investidos em estratégias de gestão em bacias hidrográficas, que visem mitigar a transferência de sedimentos aos cursos d'água. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar as fontes de sedimentos numa bacia hidrográfica rural de cabeceira com predomínio de cultivos anuais sob plantio direto e com intensa e inadequada exploração dos recursos naturais, por meio da quantificação da contribuição relativa das estradas e das lavouras na produção global de sedimentos. A bacia hidrográfica está localizada no município de Júlio de Castilhos, Rio Grande do Sul. O período de estudo foi de maio de 2009 a abril de 2011. Para a identificação das fontes, foi utilizado o método fingerprinting, que compara os solos de diferentes fontes e os sedimentos que são encontrados em suspensão no canal de drenagem, usando elementos traçadores. O manejo inadequado do solo nas áreas de lavoura, a falta de planejamento das vias de acesso e a ausência de práticas de controle do escoamento superficial, que sejam compatíveis com a fragilidade condicionada pelos solos e pelo relevo da bacia hidrográfica, têm provocado o surgimento de processos erosivos acelerados com efeitos negativos ao agricultor e à sociedade. As estradas apresentam alta porcentagem de contribuição na transferência de sedimentos, mas a contribuição das áreas de lavoura aumenta em precipitações pluviais de alta magnitude. Isso evidencia que a magnitude dos eventos de chuva influencia a proporção de contribuição entre as fontes ao longo do ano na bacia hidrográfica, interferindo no processo de mobilização de sedimentos e nutrientes em direção à rede de drenagem.

Knowledge of the main diffuse sources of sediment production can enhance efficiency in use of public resources invested in management strategies that seek to mitigate sediment transfer to waterways from catchment areas. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the sediment sources in a rural catchment with predominance of annual crops under a no-tillage system and with intense and inappropriate exploitation of natural resources (soil and water) by quantifying the relative contribution of roads and croplands in the overall production of sediments. Inappropriate exploitation is a result of a lack of planning of crop production areas and access pathways, both from the point of view of their location in the landscape, and of management practices which are incompatible with the conditions of soil fragility and relief. The catchment is located in the municipality of Julio de Castilhos, State of Rio Grande do Sul. The period under study was from May 2009 to April 2011. For identification of the sources we used the fingerprinting method, which compares the soils from different sources and the sediments in suspension in the drainage canal using tracer elements. Inadequate soil management in croplands, the lack of planning of access roads, and the absence of control practices for surface runoff compatible with the fragility brought about by the soil and topography of the watershed have caused the emergence of accelerated erosion with negative effects for the farmer and society. Roads represent a high percentage of contribution to sediment transfer, but the contribution of cropland increases with rainfall of high magnitude. This shows that the magnitude of rainfall events affects the proportion of contribution among sources throughout the year in the catchment area, affecting the process of mobilization of sediments and nutrients towards the drainage system.

The origins of plant transgenesis are discussed and the experiments that led to the first transgenic plants are analyzed. This process involved a series of actors, practices and interests specific to biotechnology. Consensus about the meaning of fundamental experiments was also at issue here. These events illustrate some of the conflicts related to genetically modified organisms, since scientists had different responses to plant transgenesis at the time of the first experiments, and opinions of the anomalies in those experiments varied. Thus, this article analyzes the interests and interpretations surrounding the first experiments involving transgenic plants.

Se presentan los orígenes de la transgénesis vegetal, analizando los experimentos que llevaron a la obtención de las primeras plantas transgénicas. Aquí se entrecruzan actores, prácticas e intereses que resultan emblemáticos de la biotecnología. Se trata, además, de un caso donde se pone en juego el consenso sobre el sentido de experimentos fundamentales. Estos sucesos permiten ilustrar parte de los conflictos en los que se involucran los organismos genéticamente modificados, pues en torno a estos primeros experimentos los científicos articularán representaciones distintas sobre la transgénesis vegetal, valorando de un modo distinto las anomalías que presentaban los primeros experimentos. De este modo, se analizan los intereses e interpretaciones en torno a los primeros experimentos con plantas transgénicas.

Agranulocytosis in cocaine users is a worldwide recently recognized condition. It is due to the utilization as cutting agent of levamisole, an ancient antiparasitic and immunomodulator drug. We describe the case of a patient with agranulocytosis induced by levamisole in association to cocaine and we review clinical and biochemical characteristics of the clinical picture, as well as the management of these patients. We also analyze the reasons related to a more and more frequent practice, the addition of levamisole to cocaine. This is the first case described in our country, although it is probable that there are many not recognized or not described cases related to this pathology.

La neutropenia en usuarios de cocaína es una condición de reciente reconocimiento en distintos países. Se debe a la utilización del levamisol, una antigua droga antiparasitaria e inmunomoduladora, como agente de corte. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con agranulocitosis por levamisol asociado a cocaína y una revisión de las características del cuadro, así como del control de estos pacientes. También se tratan los motivos vinculados al agregado cada vez más frecuente de levamisol a la cocaína. Este es el primer caso descrito en nuestro país, si bien es probable que existan muchos casos no reconocidos o no comunicados de esta enfermedad.

Lethargic encephalitis (LE) is a Central Nervous System disorder following an upper respiratory tract infection, characterized by sleep disturbances, clinical symptoms corresponding to basal ganglia involvement and in some cases, neuropsychiatric sequelae. We report a 18-year-old mole with a history of sinusitis treated with azithromycin, two weeks before, presenting with fever, headache, confusion and myoclonus. Urine analysis was positive for cannabis. Cerebro spinal fluid analysis showed mononuclear pleiocytosis (109xmm³) and an increase in protein concentration ofl.6 g/dl. Forty eight hours after admission, the patient required mechanical ventilation and subsequently a status epilepticus appeared. Ten days later, fever, rigidity and resting tremor appeared. A magnetic resonance imaging showed hyperintensities in FLALR sequence in the right insular cortex. The patient continued with extreme rigidity, catatonia and mutism. Considering the possibility ofa LE, methyl prednisolone 1 g/day was administered for five consecutive days followed by prednisone 40 mgl day, observing a dramatic improvement of rigidity and tremors.

This article aims to investigate the process of institutionalization of a new scientific discipline. In particular, the displacements that occur between disciplines with the emergence of a new one: molecular biology. The case presented in this article is the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) of Argentina, institution created in 1956 for research, innovation and extension to the agricultural sector. Thus, the paper presents the changes in the disciplines from which INTA's researchers come, since its inception in 1956 until 2010. The research presented in this article focuses on a quantitative analysis in relation to the disciplines of origin of the researchers who joined the institution. By showing the displacements between disciplines, this article aims to contribute to the study of the conflicts between them. For it suggests that the emergence of a new discipline involves not only the opening of new professions, institutions, research subjects and techniques, but also the displacement of other previously installed. These displacements would be at the root of the tensions that occur in the institutionalization of a new discipline.

Este artículo tiene por objetivo general indagar acerca de los procesos de institucionalización de una nueva disciplina científica. En particular, se analizan los desplazamientos que se producen entre disciplinas al emerger una nueva: la biología molecular. Se presenta en este artículo el caso del Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) de Argentina, institución creada en 1956 para realizar investigaciones, innovaciones y extensionismo para el sector agropecuario. De esa manera, el trabajo presenta los cambios en las disciplinas de las que provienen los investigadores del INTA, desde su creación en 1956 hasta 2010. La investigación que se presenta se centra en un análisis cuantitativo en relación a las disciplinas de origen de los investigadores que se incorporaron a la institución. Al mostrar los desplazamientos entre disciplinas, este artículo pretende contribuir al estudio sobre los conflictos entre las mismas. Pues se sugiere que la emergencia de una nueva disciplina no implica solamente la apertura de nuevas profesiones, instituciones, temas y técnicas de investigación, sino también el desplazamiento de otras anteriormente instaladas, y que tales desplazamientos estarían en la raíz de las tensiones que se registran en la institucionalización de una nueva disciplina.

The term asthenia comes from the Greek (¢sqsneia, a: privation, without; esthénos: vigor, force), it means absence of strength, vigor or force. It is a symptom, difficult to define, with a set of vague sensations, different for each patient. It is a frequent cause of consult, almost 30% in ambulatory settings. The chronic fatigue represents up to 10% of these cases, and the 0.2-0.7% belongs to the chronic fatigue syndrome. It is very important to differentiate asthenia from weakness, dizziness or dyspnoea, since patients may confuse them. The factor time in asthenia is very useful for its characterization, it was defined to the prolonged fatigue when it lasts for more than a month and chronic when the duration is greater than 6 months. The depression is the commonest fatigue cause, representing approximately half of the cases. The most effective treatment of the asthenia is to solve the underlying cause, although up to 20% of the patients remain without diagnosis. The diagnosis of the chronic fatigue syndrome is of exclusion and the criteria of the international consensus of year 1994 are due to use. The high frequency of the symptom entails an enormous social and economic cost and it is for that reason so important for physicians to have a correct manage of this symptom.

El término astenia deriva del griego (¢sqsneia, a: privación, sin, esthénos: vigor, fuerza), significa ausencia de fortaleza, vigor o fuerza. Es un síntoma difícil de definir, que implica un conjunto de sensaciones vagas, distintas para cada individuo. Es un motivo habitual de consulta representando hasta el 30% de la consulta ambulatoria. A su vez, la fatiga crónica representa del 1 al 10% de estos casos, y el 0.2- 0.7% del total pertenece al síndrome de fatiga crónica. Es importante saber diferenciar la astenia de la debilidad y de la disnea, ya que los pacientes habitualmente le dan el mismo significado. El factor tiempo en la astenia es útil para su caracterización. Se definió a la fatiga como prolongada cuando su duración es mayor a un mes y crónica cuando la misma supera los 6 meses. La sistematización de las entidades capaces de provocar astenia deberá guiar la búsqueda de síntomas y signos físicos, así como la indicación de estudios complementarios. La depresión es la causa más común de fatiga, representando aproximadamente la mitad de los casos. El tratamiento más efectivo de la astenia es solucionar la causa subyacente; no obstante hasta un 20% de los pacientes queda sin diagnóstico. El diagnóstico de síndrome de fatiga crónica es de exclusión y se deben usar los criterios del consenso internacional del año 1994¹. En cuanto a su tratamiento, existe evidencia a favor de utilizar ejercicio físico graduado y terapia cognitiva. La alta frecuencia del síntoma conlleva un enorme costo social y económico consumiendo recursos de manera desmesurada, por lo que es importante que los médicos estén familiarizados con este síntoma.

The prolific life of Jonathan Hutchinson is reviewed. The importance of triads, a set of signs and symptoms that lead to the suspicion of the presence of one or more clinical entities, that are a demonstration of associative thinking, is also discussed. Nowadays, when technology plays a very important role in medicine, we would like to underscore the value of history taking and physical examination as useful clinical tools.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease with several causes and diverse clinical course. In our environment there are not many papers on this entity and they approach punctual features inside the broad spectrum picture. The aim of this study is to determinate clinical features, etiology, handling and evolution of patients diagnosed with AP admitted in our Hospital during a three years period. The clinical records of patients with AP admitted at the British Hospital of Buenos Aires between April 2004 and April 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic data, etiology, treatment, severity of the illness, morbidity and mortality were evaluated. Ninety seven patients were diagnosed with AP during the analyzed period. Forty nine were male (50.5%). The average age was 58.5 ± 1.6 years (range 21-93). Ninety two patients presented only one episode of AP and five patients suffered two or more (recurrent pancreatitis). According to the etiology, 48 had a biliary origin, 23 were idiopathic, 11 post biliary tract procedures, 2 recognized an alcoholic origin and 13 other causes. The median hospital stay was 7 days. Twenty five percent required admission in Intensive Care Unit. Most of the patients (n: 66; 72%) presented mild episodes according to the Ranson Score. The median of beginning oral feeding was 3 days. Regarding to complications, 13% have multiple organ failure, 8% pancreatic necrosis (4 infected), only one patient had a pseudocist and another patient a peripancreatic abscess. Mortality rate was 7.2% (7 cases, all with Ranson = 3). Although this is a short series, the biliar origin is still the most prevalent etiology in our population. The low number of alcoholic origin caught our attention. Mortality was similar to that described in other series, but the number of local complications was lower. Our data are consistent with other papers regarding management and prognosis, and update the Argentine casuistic.

La pancreatitis aguda (PA) es una patología con múltiples etiologías y de curso clínico diverso. En nuestro medio son escasas las comunicaciones acerca de esta entidad y en general abordan temas puntuales dentro del amplio espectro del cuadro. El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar las características clínicas, la etiología, el manejo y la evolución de los pacientes internados en nuestra institución con diagnóstico de PA. Se analizaron retrospectivamente los registros clínicos de los pacientes con diagnóstico de PA entre abril de 2004 y abril de 2007. Se evaluaron los datos poblacionales, etiología, tratamiento instaurado, gravedad y morbimortalidad. En el período analizado, 97 pacientes fueron internados con diagnóstico de PA. Cuarenta y nueve fueron de sexo masculino (50.5%). La edad promedio fue de 58.5 ± 1.6 años (rango 21-93). Noventa y dos pacientes presentaron un solo episodio de PA, y 5 pacientes dos o más episodios (pancreatitis recurrente). Según su etiología, 48 fueron de origen biliar, 23 idiopáticas, 11 post-procedimientos en la vía biliar, 2 de origen alcohólico y 13 de otras causas. La mediana de estadía hospitalaria fue 7 días. El 25% requirió internación en Unidad de Terapia Intensiva. Según la escala de Ranson la mayoría de los pacientes (n: 66; 72%) presentaron cuadros leves. La mediana de inicio de alimentación oral fue de 3 días. Con respecto a las complicaciones, 13% presentaron falla multiorgánica, 8% necrosis pancreática (4 infectadas), sólo un paciente desarrolló un seudoquiste y otro un absceso pancreático. La mortalidad fue 7.2% (7 casos, todos con Ranson ≥ 3). La PA de origen biliar resultó ser la más común y si bien la presente es una serie pequeña, llama la atención el bajo número de PA de origen alcohólico. Aunque el número de complicaciones locales fue menor, la mortalidad fue similar a la descripta en la literatura. Nuestros datos también son coincidentes en cuanto al manejo y pronóstico de la PA. El presente trabajo actualiza la casuística en Argentina.

Technological risk notion is frequently used to question impacts that new technologies -in particular, modern biotechnology- would have on environment, human health and socio-economic dynamics. This paper's purpose is to analyze social movements attitude against these technologies from their speech on technological risk. With such aim we analyze the differents arguments employed by them, introducing the problem from the perspective of "risk society" as well. Finally, we suggest an interpretation on the representation of technology included in risk discourse, accenting its polisemic and fetichist character.

La noción de riesgo tecnológico suele ser empleada para cuestionar los impactos que las nuevas tecnologías -en particular, la biotecnología moderna- tendrían sobre el medio ambiente, la salud humana y la dinámica socio-económica. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la posición que asumen los movimientos sociales frente a estas tecnologías a partir de su discurso sobre el riesgo tecnológico. Para ello se analizan los distintos argumentos que emplean, presentando también el problema desde la perspectiva de la "sociedad del riesgo". Se propone finalmente una interpretación acerca de la representación de la tecnología que domina el discurso del riesgo, para lo cual se destaca el carácter polisémico y fetichista del mismo.

The term paroxysmal sympathetic storms is used to define episodic alterations in body temperature, blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate, size of pupil, and level of consciousness coinciding with hyperhidrosis, excessive salivation and extensor posturing. All the cases were presented after severe diffuse axonal head injury. We present two young patients with diffuse axonal head injury that develop in their evolution hypertension, tachycardia and fever without evidence during the episodes of epileptiform activity and without any infectious cause with excellent answer to the treatment with beta-blockers and morphine. We consider that the correct diagnosis of this entity minimizes the application of unnecessary studies allowing an appropriate treatment.

El término tormenta simpática paroxística se utiliza como sinónimo de alteraciones episódicas de la temperatura corporal, la presión arterial, la frecuencia respiratoria y cardíaca, el tamaño pupilar y el nivel de conciencia, que coinciden con hiperhidrosis, salivación excesiva y postura extensora. Esto siempre en el contexto de una injuria axonal difusa grave que sigue a un traumatismo encéfalo-craneano (TEC) grave. Presentamos dos pacientes jóvenes con injuria axonal difusa secundaria a TEC grave, que desarrollan en su evolución cuadros de hipertensión arterial, taquicardia y fiebre, sin evidencia durante los episodios de actividad epileptiforme y habiéndose descartado la causa infecciosa, que responden favorablemente al tratamiento con beta-bloqueantes y morfina. Consideramos que el correcto diagnóstico de esta entidad minimiza la solicitud de estudios innecesarios permitiendo iniciar un tratamiento adecuado.