Testimonio profesional de la psicología de la salud en la región central de Cuba. (1964-2023)

Fundamento: las llamadas provincias de Las Villas y La Habana atesoran las primeras experiencias sobre la psicología en Cuba, después del triunfo de la Revolución; aunque esta historia ha sido insuficientemente divulgada en la región central del país. Objetivo: identificar aspectos distintivos de la psicología de la salud desde 1964 hasta 2023 en la antigua provincia de Las Villas, y posteriormente, en Villa Clara. Métodos: se realizó una investigación de tipo histórico en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara, entre enero-marzo 2023. Se emplearon métodos teóricos y empíricos: investigación documental en fuentes históricas de probada veracidad, entrevistas a informantes clave y testimonios de las autoras. Resultados: en el curso 1968-1969 se insertó la Psicología en los programas del Ministerio de Salud Pública, en La Habana y Las Villas. A partir de la fundación de la Sociedad Nacional de Psicología de la Salud y la Filial de Las Villas (1975), la especialidad ha ido en progreso: la graduación de varios especialistas, realización de cuatro maestrías y una línea de investigación doctoral, varios eventos con participación internacional, los intercambios científicos con otras universidades, y la acreditación de la especialidad son algunos de los avances que la distinguen. Conclusiones: la psicología de la salud en la región central de Cuba ha ido en ascenso desde su fundación. Sus logros en los escenarios científicos y académicos se han fortalecido bajo la dirección de un grupo de fundadores que con creatividad y responsabilidad se han convertido en promotores y actores de sus éxitos.

Background: the so-called provinces of Las Villas and Havana treasure the first experiences on health psychology in Cuba; although this story has been insufficiently disseminated in the central region of the country. Objective: to identify distinctive aspects of health psychology from 1964 to 2023 in the former province of Las Villas, and later, in Villa Clara. Methods: a historical research was carried out at Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences, from January to March 2023. Theoretical methods were used: analysis-synthesis, induction-deduction, historical-logical and systemic; empirical: documentary research in historical sources of proven veracity, interviews with key informants and testimonies of the authors. Results: in the 1968-1969 academic year, Psychology was inserted into the programs of the Ministry of Public Health, in Havana and Las Villas. Since the founding of the National Society of Health Psychology and the Las Villas Branch in 1975, the specialty has been in progress: the graduation of several specialists, completion of four master's degrees and a line of doctoral research, several events with participation International exchange, scientific exchanges with other universities, and the accreditation of the specialty are some of the advances that distinguish it. Conclusions: health psychology in the central region of Cuba has been on the rise since its foundation. Its achievements in the scientific and academic scenarios have been strengthened under the direction of a group of founders who, with creativity and responsibility, have become promoters and actors of its successes.

Morfo-anatomía foliar de Araujia odorata (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae) en un gradiente altitudinal: histoquímica de laticíferos / Foliar morpho-anatomy of Araujia odorata (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae) in an altitudinal gradient: histochemistry of laticifers

Araujia odorata is a sub-shrub native from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, whose latex, roots and leaves are used in traditional medicine. The objective of this work is to study the foliar morpho-anatomy of six populations in an altitudinal gradient (359-2155 m.a.s.l.) of Northwestern Argentine and to determine the nature of the compounds present in the laticiferous of the stems and fruits using conventional techniques for plant anatomy. The populations under study did not show significant morpho-anatomical differences. They presented simple leaves, pinnated brochydodromous venation, amphiestomatic isolateral lamina, brachy, anomo and amphicyclocytic stomata, eglandular trichomes, midvein with bicolateral vascular bundle and non-articulated laticifers continuous in the petiole, stem and fruits. Differences in the quantified foliar parameters are observed, however, only the density of trichomes, stomata and the thickness of the cuticle are positively correlated with the altitudinal gradient, indicating phenotypic plasticity. Histochemical analysis of laticifers and other stem idioblasts of A. odoratawas performed for the first time.

Araujia odorata, es un subarbusto nativo de Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay y Uruguay, cuyo látex, raíces y hojas son utilizados en medicina popular. Se plantea como objetivo realizar un estudio morfo-anatómico foliar de seis poblaciones del Noroeste Argentino en un gradiente altitudinal (359-2155 m.s.n.m) y determinar la naturaleza de los compuestos presentes en laticíferos de tallos y frutos mediante técnicas convencionales de anatomía vegetal. Las poblaciones estudiadas no evidenciaron diferencias morfo-anatómicas significativas. Presentan hojas simples, venación pinnada broquidódroma, lámina isolateral anfiestomática, estomas braqui, anomo y anficiclocíticos, tricomas eglandulares, nervio medio con haz bicolateral y laticíferos no-articulados continuos en pecíolo, tallo y frutos. Se observan diferencias en los parámetros foliares cuantificados, sin embargo, solo la de densidad de tricomas, estomas y el espesor de cutícula se correlacionan positivamente con el gradiente altitudinal indicando plasticidad fenotípica. Se realiza por primera vez un análisis histoquímico de los laticíferos y otros idioblastos del tallo A. odorata.

Evaluación de la exposición ocupacional a cromo en industrias de cromado en Valencia, Venezuela / Assessment of the occupational exposure to chromium in chromium-industries in Valencia, Venezuela

Twenty three (23) workers were studied in 2 plating industries: hard-surface plating (A); n=20 and decorative plating (B); n=3, to characterize potential health effects due to Chromium (Cr) exposure. A questionnaire was designed to collect personal data, health information, work activities and life-styles. Personal Cr+6-Air and biological monitoring of Initial and Final Cr in Urine (U-Cr), were conducted. Results show that A had workers with a higher mean of Cr+6-Air than B, but the difference was no statistically significant which was not expected due to the type of process. The average concentration of U-Cr Initial and Final, on workers with “Direct” exposure (15 workers) was significantly higher (p=0,005; y p=0,008 respectively) to the workers with “Indirect” exposure (8 workers) as it was expected. At “A”, the mean concentration of Initial U-Cr in chroming workers (13,98 ± 8,78 ug/g Ct), was significantly higher (p=0,012) to the one obtained with workers of the Administrative area (2,53 ± 1,7 ug/g Ct). Maintaining mechanics (MM) mean (13 ± 5,57 ug/g Ct) was significantly higher to the level obtained from Operator (O) (6,04 ± 1,78 ug/g CT) and Administrative area workers (2,53 ± 1,7 ug/g ct), (p=0,047 y p=0,004 respectively). This can be explained because MM and O are exposed “directly” working very near to the chromium piles. Main symptoms reported were dermal (65,2 percent) and respiratory (30,4 percent), which are the most vulnerable systems to Cr. The association of biological and environmental monitoring, show a direct correlation (r=0.373), and significant (p=0,04), however, the Cr+6-Air level was not able to explain with confidence, the variability in U-Cr concentrations. It is recommended a new study with a more frequent sampling during the day and more extended in time.

Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal en 2 empresas cromadoras de Valencia, Venezuela, para evaluar posibles efectos adversos por exposición al Cromo (Cr). Se investigaron 23 trabajadores, 20 de cromado duro (A) y 3 de cromado decorativo (B). Se administró un cuestionario para conocer datos personales, clínicos, estilos de vida y prácticas de trabajo. Se utilizaron monitores personales para determinar la concentración ambiental de Cr+6 (Cr+6-aire) y se midió la concentración de Cr en Orina (Cr-O), Inicial y Final. Aunque los valores de Cr-Aire en la empresa “A” resultaron levemente superiores a los de “B”, realmente se esperaba que, basados en el tipo de proceso, fuesen significativamente mayores em “A”. El promedio de Cr-O Inicial y Final en trabajadores com exposición “Directa” (15 Trabajadores), fue significativamente superior (p=0,005; y p=0,008 respectivamente) a los de exposición “Indirecta” (8 trabajadores), como se esperaba. En la empresa “A” la media de Cr-O inicial observada en los cromadores (13,98 ± 8,78 ug/g Ct), fue significativamente superior (p=0.012) a la media obtenida en los trabajadores Del área Administrativa (2,53 ± 1,7 ug/g Ct) y la de los Mecánicos de Mantenimiento (MMTO) (13 ± 5,57 ug/g Ct), fue significativamente superior a la de Tornero/Operador (TO) (6,04 ± 1,78 ug/g Ct) y Administrativos (2,53 ± 1,7 ug/g Ct), (p=0,047 y p=0,004 respectivamente). Los valores Del cromador, MMTO y TO se explican porque son de exposición “Directa”, con puesto de trabajo muy cercano a las pilas de cromado. Los síntomas principales reportados en la población general fueron dérmicos (65,2 por ciento), seguidos por respiratórios 30,4 por ciento, que son los sistemas más vulnerables al Cr Al asociar indicadores biológicos y monitoreo ambiental, los resultados muestran una correlación...

Bacteriostatic action of synthetic polyhydroxylated chalcones against Escherichia coli.

In previous work the bacteriostatic action of trihydroxylated chalcones against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25 923 was investigated. In this work the action of 2',4',2-(OH)3-chalcone, 2',4',3-(OH)3-chalcone and 2',4',4-(OH)3-chalcone against Escherichia coli ATCC 25 922 was evaluated. Growth kinetic curves of E. coli were made in nutritive broth added with increasing drug concentrations. The specific growth rates of the microorganisms were calculated by a kinetic turbidimetric method, which was previously probed and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC's) were evaluated by a mechanism of action proposed. The MICs of 2',4',3-(OH)3-chalcone and 2',4',2-(OH)3-chalcone were 46 microg/ml and 122 microg/ml, respectively. The 2',4',4-(OH)3-chalcone was inactive. The MIC value of 2',4',3-(OH)3-chalcone (46 microg/ml), more active than 2',3-(OH)2-chalcone (72.2 microg/ml) may be due to the introduction of an electron donating group (-OH) at position 4' in the aromatic A-ring, which activates the region that includes the 2'-hydroxyl neighbor group and the alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl group.

Bacteriostatic action of synthetic polyhydroxylated chalcones against Escherichia coli.

In previous work the bacteriostatic action of trihydroxylated chalcones against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25 923 was investigated. In this work the action of 2,4,2-(OH)3-chalcone, 2,4,3-(OH)3-chalcone and 2,4,4-(OH)3-chalcone against Escherichia coli ATCC 25 922 was evaluated. Growth kinetic curves of E. coli were made in nutritive broth added with increasing drug concentrations. The specific growth rates of the microorganisms were calculated by a kinetic turbidimetric method, which was previously probed and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were evaluated by a mechanism of action proposed. The MICs of 2,4,3-(OH)3-chalcone and 2,4,2-(OH)3-chalcone were 46 microg/ml and 122 microg/ml, respectively. The 2,4,4-(OH)3-chalcone was inactive. The MIC value of 2,4,3-(OH)3-chalcone (46 microg/ml), more active than 2,3-(OH)2-chalcone (72.2 microg/ml) may be due to the introduction of an electron donating group (-OH) at position 4 in the aromatic A-ring, which activates the region that includes the 2-hydroxyl neighbor group and the alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl group.