Background: There have been few studies evaluating snakebite mortality in Venezuela and South merica. In this study we evaluate trends in fatal snakebites occurring in Venezuela, 2003Venezuela, -2007 Methods: Epidemiological data for this study were retrieved from the records of the Ministry of Health of Venezuela (ICD-10 codes to search for deaths due to snakebites). We analyzed the impact of these envenomations in Venezuela during the study period.Results: During the study period, there were 176 reports of death due to snakebite (0.63 deaths/100,000pop., ranging from 0.08 to 0.17), showing a slight decrease in the mortality rates from 0.13 deaths/100,000pop. in 2003 to 0.08 in 2007 (r2 = 0.3942,b = -0.014000, P = 0.2634); 72.7% were males, 27.3% were females (P < 0.05). Annual mean deaths numbered 35 per year. Of total deaths, 30.1% occurred in victims 55-70 y-old (age adjusted rate of 1.4 deaths/100,000pop.). Deaths in young children (<5 yold) accounted for 4.5% of the total (age adjusted rate of 0.28 deaths/100,000pop.). Mortality by age showed an agedependent pattern, with higher rates in older ages (r2 = 0.259,b = 0.392998,P = 0.0156). Regard the place of envenomations occurrence in 15.3% were at home, 12.5% at roads and 5.1% at farms (P < 0.05).Conclusion: These figures are similar to a previous report (Wilderness and Environmental Medicine 2007;18:209-213), however previously was reported a slight increase in the mortality in the last eight years, herein we showed a decrease. Additionally also an increase in the female deaths has been observed. Unfortunately morbidity data at the national level is not optimal (underreporting) to perform further analyses beyond the primary analysis of the trends in snakebite mortality. Conversely, all cases of deaths are specifically and obligatorily reportable, and mortality information is more available and accurate. Snake envenomations are an important cause of injury and deaths in Venezuela as in many American countries. Surveillance of envenomations is essential for establishing guidelines, planning therapeutic supplies, and training medical staff on snakebite treatment, as well as assessing risk zones for travelers.

En el presente artículo se aborda la temática correspondiente a la evolución, avances y perspectivas de la Investigación en la Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador (UPEL) de Venezuela. Se plantea como una indagación de carácter documental y descriptiva, cuyo propósito es exponerel estado actual de la investigación en la UPEL. Con tal fin, se revisan aspectos históricos, estructurales y de pertinencia de la investigación. Se encuentra que en el devenir histórico la investigación en dicha universidad, se aprecian elementos que han aletargado esta función, palpable en la caracterización de los trabajos de investigación, sin embargo, la presencia de instrumentoslegales y la constante reformulación de las Políticas de financiamiento de la investigación le han dado un nuevo sentido e impulso. De igual forma se establece que una de las variables favorecedoras para dicha actividad, es la estructura organizativa y gerencial que administra la investigación en dicha Universidad (Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Postgrado a nivel del Rectorado y las Subdirecciones de Investigación y Postgrado a nivel de los Institutos). Para dar respuesta a la pertinencia, caracterizamos en cinco categorías las investigaciones realizadas en la UPEL, las cuales son expuestas de manera sucinta. Por último, se muestran algunos indicadores que señalan que la investigación en esta Universidad tenía una tendencia a fortalecerse, antes del recorte presupuestario del año 2008. Se presentan lineamientos generales para superar ese letargo y avanzar hacia su consolidación