Círculos de interés de Estomatología: espacio para la orientación vocacional e información / Vocational training groups: space for vocational guidance and oral hygiene information in schoolchildren

Fundamento: los círculos de interés de Estomatología constituyen espacios que contribuyen a la formación vocacional de los escolares a la vez que promueven su salud bucodental. Objetivo: elaborar un programa educativo para círculo de interés de Estomatología que contribuya a la orientación vocacional y hábitos saludables en escolares. Métodos: se realizó una investigación de desarrollo en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara. Se utilizaron métodos teóricos: histórico-lógico, análisis-síntesis e inductivo-deductivo; y empíricos: análisis documental, encuesta en forma de cuestionario a los escolares y la observación. El producto fue valorado por criterios de especialistas. Resultados: la mayoría de los escolares expresó su disposición a participar en el círculo de interés, se detectaron sus carencias acerca de la higiene bucodental y su importancia; y casi todos estaban desinformados sobre temas relacionados con la Estomatología. El programa educativo elaborado ofrecía solución a estas insuficiencias; después de su aplicación se corroboró su efectividad. Conclusiones: fue valorado como pertinente, útil, factible y de adecuado valor metodológico por los especialistas consultados. Con su aplicación, los escolares mejoraron su información e higiene bucodental y se motivaron por los temas relacionados con la Estomatología.

Background: Dentistry vocational training groups are spaces that contribute to the vocational training of school children while promoting their oral health. Objective: to develop an educational program for the Dentistry vocational training groups, that contributes to the vocational guidance and healthy habits in school children Methods: a development research was carried out at Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences. Theoretical methods were used: historical-logical, analysis-synthesis and inductive-deductive; and empirical: documentary analysis, survey in the form of a questionnaire to schoolchildren and observation. The product was evaluated by specialists' criteria. Results: the majority of the students expressed their willingness to participate in the vocational training groups, their shortcomings about oral hygiene and its importance were detected; and almost everyone was uninformed about issues related to Dentistry. The educative program elaborated offered solution to these insufficiencies; after its implementation, its effectiveness was corroborated. Conclusions: it was assessed as pertinent, useful, feasible and of adequate methodological value by the specialists consulted. With its implementation, school children improved their oral hygiene and were motivated by the topics related to Dentistry.

Investigación científica, actividades educativas comunitarias y funciones gerenciales: pertinencia en la superación de alumnos ayudantes / Scientific research, community educational activities and managerial functions: pertinence in the assistant students upgrading

Fundamento: pertenecer al movimiento de alumnos ayudantes "Frank País García" exige de los estudiantes de las ciencias médicas una continua superación docente, investigativa y gerencial. Objetivo: diseñar un curso de superación para fortalecer la preparación de los alumnos ayudantes de la carrera Estomatología. Métodos: se realizó una investigación de desarrollo en la Facultad de Estomatología de la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara, durante los cursos escolares 2011 al 2013. Se utilizaron métodos del nivel teórico: análisis-síntesis e inductivo-deductivo; empíricos: análisis documental y la encuesta en forma de cuestionario para conocer las necesidades sentidas que sobre la superación, tienen estos estudiantes. Resultados: el diagnóstico realizado permitió identificar que la superación no se realiza formando un sistema integrado, en ella predominan los intercambios con tutores, la participación en algunas reuniones de asignaturas y departamentos, el seguimiento a actividades de investigación y un curso de pedagogía. Los estudiantes identificaron necesidades relacionadas con la investigación científica, actividades educativas comunitarias y funciones gerenciales por lo que se diseñó un curso con esos temas, el cual fue valorado por criterios de especialistas. Conclusiones: se determinaron las necesidades de superación de los alumnos ayudantes para poder desarrollar las actividades previstas para ellos en los documentos rectores. Los especialistas consultados consideran el curso diseñado como pertinente, con adecuada estructuración metodológica, positivo carácter científico y actualización, y su factibilidad para ser aplicado.

Background: to be part of the "Frank País García" assistant students movement requires a continuous teaching, researching and management upgrading of the students in the medical sciences. Objective: to design an upgrading course to strengthen the preparation of assistant students of the Dentistry career. Methods: a developmental research was carried out at Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences Dentistry Faculty, from the school years 2011 to 2013. Methods were used at the theoretical level: analysis-synthesis and inductive-deductive; Empirical ones: documentary analysis and the survey in questionnaire form to know the upgrading felt needs of these students. Results: the diagnosis made possible to identify that upgrading is not achieved by forming an integrated system, which includes exchanges with tutors, participation in some subject and department meetings, follow up to researching activities and a pedagogy course. Students identified needs related to scientific research, community educational activities and managerial functions, so a course with these topics was designed, which was assessed by specialists. Conclusions: the students' upgrading needs were determined in order to carry out the activities planned for them in the guiding documents. The specialists consulted consider the course designed as pertinent, with adequate methodological structuring, positive scientific character and updating, and its feasibility to be applied.

Visita virtual a la Facultad de Estomatología: pertinencia en la orientación profesional de la carrera / Virtual visit to the Dentistry Faculty: its pertinence in career professional orientation

Introducción: la orientación profesional a través de medios audiovisuales es una estrategia novedosa y efectiva para motivar a estudiantes en la selección de la carrera de Estomatología. Objetivo: valorar la pertinencia del audiovisual Visita virtual a la Facultad de Estomatología, dirigido a estudiantes de primer año y aspirantes a la carrera, según criterios de especialistas y usuarios. Métodos: se realizó una investigación descriptiva en la Facultad de Estomatología de la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara. Para ello se emplearon métodos teóricos: análisis-síntesis, histórico-lógico e inductivo-deductivo; y empíricos: la encuesta en forma de cuestionario y de entrevista a los estudiantes. Para la valoración del producto se utilizó el criterio de especialistas y usuarios. Resultados: entre las causas motivadoras de los estudiantes para optar por la carrera predominó la colaboración con otros países; en cuanto a los criterios asumidos sobre la Estomatología: los de primer año tuvieron los mayores aciertos, dados por su participación en el curso introductorio; con respecto a las formas en que recibieron orientación profesional, sobresalen la asistencia masiva a las puertas abiertas por los aspirantes y la escasa participación en círculos de interés por ambos grupos; por lo que se elaboró un recurso audiovisual el cual fue valorado por especialistas y usuarios. Conclusiones: el medio fue valorado como pertinente por el dinamismo de sus secuencias, los efectos visuales, el equilibrio entre los diálogos y su aire juvenil; todo lo cual lo convierte en apropiado para la orientación profesional.

Background: professional orientation through audiovisual media is a novel and effective strategy to motivate students in the enrollment to the Dentistry career. Objective: to assess the pertinence of the audiovisual Virtual visit to the Dentistry Faculty, aimed at first year students and aspirants to the career, according to the criteria of specialists and users. Methods: a descriptive research was carried out at Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences Dentistry Faculty. For this purpose theoretical methods were used: analysis-synthesis, historical-logical and inductive-deductive; and empirical ones: the survey in questionnaire form and an interview was applied to students. The users and specialists´ criteria was used for the assessment of the product. Results: among the motivating causes of the students to opt for the career predominated the collaboration with other countries; In terms of the criteria adopted on Dentistry: the first year students had the greatest success, because of their participation in the introductory course; With regard to the ways in which they received professional orientation, the massive attendance to the opened doors by the aspirants and the low participation in vocational training activities by both groups stand out; For which an audiovisual teaching aid was elaborated which was valued by specialists and users. Conclusions: the teaching aid was valued as relevant by the dynamism of its sequences, the visual effects, the balance between the dialogues and its youthful air; all of which makes it suitable for career professional orientation.

Curso virtual sobre Metodología de la Investigación y Bioestadística para profesionales de Estomatología / Virtual course on research Methodology and Biostatistics for Odontology professionals

Fundamento: las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación han facilitado el uso de plataformas y el desarrollo del e-learning en la enseñanza universitaria. Objetivo: confeccionar un curso de posgrado virtual sobre Metodología de la Investigación y Bioestadística para profesionales de la Estomatología. Métodos: se realizó una investigación descriptiva en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara, curso 2012-2013. Se utilizaron métodos teóricos: análisis-síntesis e inductivo-deductivo, para los referentes teóricos del tema y revisión de la bibliografía más actualizada, y la modelación para conformar el curso; empíricos: revisión de investigaciones o artículos científicos para conocer las deficiencias de aplicación de la Metodología de la Investigación Científica y la Bioestadística, y la encuesta: para diagnosticar necesidades de aprendizaje de los profesionales en su función investigativa. Resultados: se diagnosticaron dificultades en la redacción de resúmenes, situación problémica, objetivos y problema científico, formulación de la hipótesis, clasificación de la investigación, elaboración del marco teórico, determinación de la población y tipo de muestreo, operacionalización de las variables, definición de métodos y tratamiento de la información, calidad del procesamiento estadístico y uso de sus técnicas, por lo que se diseñó un curso de posgrado mediante la modalidad virtual. Conclusiones: el producto fue valorado por especialistas los cuales lo consideraron satisfactorio en cuanto a: secuencia lógica de los contenidos, calidad de la redacción, el vocabulario utilizado, novedad científica, necesidad del curso, pertinencia, y la preparación que permite en la labor investigativa.

Background: the Information and Communication Technologies have facilitated the use of platforms and the development of the e-learning in the university teaching. Objective: to make a postgraduate virtual course on Research Methodology and Biostatistics for Odontology professionals. Methods: it was carried out a descriptive research work in Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences, in the academic year 2012-2013. Theoretical methods were used: analysis-synthesis and inductive-deductive, for the theoretical background on the topic and the review of the most updated bibliography, and modeling to conform the course; empiric ones: review of research works or scientific articles to know the deficiencies in the application of the Scientific Research Methodology and Biostatistics, and the survey: to diagnose learning necessities of the professionals in their researching function. Results: difficulties were diagnosed in the writing of summaries, problem solving situation, objectives and scientific problem, formulation of the hypothesis, classification of the research work, elaboration of the theoretical background, the population determination and sampling type, workout with variables, definition of methods and treatment of the information, statistical processing quality and the use of its techniques, that´s why a postgraduate course was designed by means of the virtual modality. Conclusions: the product was valued by specialists who considered it satisfactory in regard to: logical sequence of the contents, quality of writing, vocabulary used, scientific novelty, necessity of the course, pertinence, and the preparation that it facilitates for the researching activity.

Identification and characterization of a gene encoding for a nucleotidase from Phaseolus vulgaris.

Nucleotidases are phosphatases that catalyze the removal of phosphate from nucleotides, compounds with an important role in plant metabolism. A phosphatase enzyme, with high affinity for nucleotides monophosphate previously identified and purified in embryonic axes from French bean, has been analyzed by MALDI TOF/TOF and two internal peptides have been obtained. The information of these peptide sequences has been used to search in the genome database and only a candidate gene that encodes for the phosphatase was identified (PvNTD1). The putative protein contains the conserved domains (motif I-IV) for haloacid dehalogenase-like hydrolases superfamily. The residues involved in the catalytic activity are also conserved. A recombinant protein overexpressed in Escherichia coli has shown molybdate resistant phosphatase activity with nucleosides monophosphate as substrate, confirming that the identified gene encodes for the phosphatase with high affinity for nucleotides purified in French bean embryonic axes. The activity of the purified protein was inhibited by adenosine. The expression of PvNTD1 gene was induced at the specific moment of radicle protrusion in embryonic axes. The gene was also highly expressed in young leaves whereas the level of expression in mature tissues was minimal.

Purification and identification of a nuclease activity in embryo axes from French bean.

Plant nucleases are involved in nucleic acid degradation associated to programmed cell death processes as well as in DNA restriction, repair and recombination processes. However, the knowledge about the function of plant nucleases is limited. A major nuclease activity was detected by in-gel assay with whole embryonic axes of common bean by using ssDNA or RNA as substrate, whereas this activity was minimal in cotyledons. The enzyme has been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from embryonic axes. The main biochemical properties of the purified enzyme indicate that it belongs to the S1/P1 family of nucleases. This was corroborated when this protein, after SDS-electrophoresis, was excised from the gel and further analysis by MALDI TOF/TOF allowed identification of the gene (PVN1) that codes this protein. The gene that codes the purified protein was identified. The expression of PVN1 gene was induced at the specific moment of radicle protrusion. The inclusion of inorganic phosphate to the imbibition media reduced the level of expression of this gene and the nuclease activity suggesting a relationship with the phosphorous status in French bean seedlings.

Factores motivacionales que influyeron en estudiantes de primer año para elegir la carrera de Estomatología / Motivational factors which influenced upon fresh more students to select the Odontology career

Tipo de estudio: descriptivo en estudiantes de primer año de la Facultad de Estomatología de Villa Clara en el curso 2011-2012. Objetivo: determinar los factores motivacionales que influyeron en estos estudiantes para elegir la carrera. Universo: constituido por todos los estudiantes matriculados en la sede central. Muestra: se obtuvo mediante un muestreo aleatorio simple con el 50 % de los alumnos. Métodos: teóricos, empíricos y matemáticos. Resultados: el 50.9% de los ingresados a la carrera fueron del municipio Santa Clara; de éstos, el 49% acceden por preuniversitario, el resto por concurso. Entre ellos, el 51.6% declaran haber recibido conferencias orientadoras y solamente un estudiante del propio municipio señala participación en círculo de interés, el resto de los municipios no refieren haber recibido alguna orientación. Los factores motivacionales identificados en los estudiantes fueron el reconocimiento social representado por 22 (41.5%) y la familia o amistades 21 (39.6). Conclusiones: la mayoría de los estudiantes ingresaron por vía preuniversitario, y predominaron los del municipio Santa Clara. Se identificaron como factores influyentes el reconocimiento social y la influencia afectiva, la escasez de orientación y formación vocacional, y en mayor medida, la casi nula participación en círculo de interés. Por lo que proponemos el análisis en las enseñanzas media superior y superior, de factores como los ya descritos para que se desarrollen acciones con el fin de lograr una mayor motivación en los estudiantes.

Type of study: descriptive study in fresh more students of the Villa Clara Odontology Faculty in the academic year2011- 2012. Objective: to determine the motivational factors that influenced upon fresh more students to select the Odontology career. Universe: All the students registered in the central site. Sample: conglomerated and randomized sampling of 50% of the students of the groups. Method: a survey was applied to the students. Results: 50.9 % of the students are from Santa Clara, and 49% come from the pre- university, the rest entered through contest. 51.6% referred they had received orientation lectures in Santa Clara municipality and only one student participated in a special training and orientation group, the rest of the municipalities haven't received any orientation. The identified motivational factors that the students referred were the social recognition 22(41.5%) and the family or friendships 21(39.6) Conclusions: most of the students entered coming from the pre-university and the ones from Santa Clara municipality are predominant. It is stated the presence of motivational factors such as the social recognition and the affective influence, it is also stated the lack of orientation, vocational formation and in a greater extent the participation in special training and orientation groups.

El método de proyectos, su aplicación en la disciplina Informática Médica / The Project method, its application in the medical informatics discipline

Investigación realizada en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara, en la carrera de Estomatología durante el primer semestre de curso 2010-2011, con el objetivo de describir los principales resultados de la aplicación del método de proyectos en la disciplina Informática Médica. Fue aplicada por los integrantes del claustro docente, los cuales realizaron el proceso según las orientaciones del programa, solo se modificó el método de enseñanza sugerido. Concluida la etapa de aplicación fueron entrevistados estudiantes y profesores, la información obtenida fue sometida a la técnica de triangulación, posteriormente se sometió la propuesta a criterio de especialistas. La aplicación del método de proyectos en la disciplina Informática Médica vincula las diferentes formas de enseñanza y su dirección metodológica, garantizando la actividad cognoscitiva independiente y la búsqueda del conocimiento.

This research work was carried out in Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences, in the Odontology career during the first term of the academic year 2011-2012, with the objective to describe the main outcomes in the application of the method project in the medical informatics discipline. It was applied by the members of the teaching staff, who carried out the process according to the orientations of the syllabus; just the teaching method was modified. Students and professors were interviewed after the conclusion of the application stage, the information gathered was contrasted. The proposal was valued by the specialists. The application of the project method in the medical informatics discipline links the different teaching forms and its methodological direction, which guarantee the independent cognitive activity and the search for knowledge.

Identification of a novel phosphatase with high affinity for nucleotides monophosphate from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seedlings accumulate ureides derived from purines after germination. The first step in the conversion of purines to ureides is the removal of the 5'-phosphate group by a phosphatase that has not been established yet. Two main phosphatase activities were detected in the embryonic axes of common bean using inosine monophosphate as substrate in an in-gel assay. Both activities differed in their sensitive to the common phosphatase inhibitor molybdate, with the molybdate-resistant as the first enzyme induced after radicle protrusion. The molybdate-resistant phosphatase has been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity and this is the first enzyme which shows this resistance purified and characterized from plant tissues. The native enzyme was a monomer of 55 kDa and it showed highest activity with nucleotides as substrates, with the K(m) values in the micromolar range. Among nucleotides, the highest specific constant (V(max)/K(m)) was observed for adenosine monophosphate. Furthermore, the enzyme was inhibited by nucleosides, the products of the enzymatic reaction, with maximum effect for adenosine. Common bean seedlings imbibed in the presence of adenosine monophosphate in vivo showed the highest molybdate-resistant phosphatase activity in the axes in addition to increased ureide content. The data presented suggests that purified phosphatase is involved in nucleotide metabolism in embryonic axes from common bean.

An alternative pathway for ureide usage in legumes: enzymatic formation of a ureidoglycolate adduct in Cicer arietinum and Phaseolus vulgaris.

Ureidoglycolate is an intermediate in the degradation of the ureides, allantoin and allantoate, found in many organisms. In some leguminous plant species these compounds are used to transport recently fixed nitrogen in the root nodules to the aerial parts of the plant. In the present study, it was demonstrated that purified ureidoglycolases from chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) do not produce glyoxylate, and can use phenylhydrazine as a substrate with K(m) values of 4.0 mM and 8.5 mM, respectively. Furthermore, these enzymes catalyse the transfer of the ureidoglycolyl group to phenylhydrazine to produce ureidoglycolyl phenylhydrazide, which degrades non-enzymatically to glyoxylate phenylhydrazone and urea. This supports their former classification as ureidoglycolate urea-lyases. The enzymatic reaction catalysed by the characterized ureidoglycolases uncovered here can be viewed as a novel type of phenylhydrazine ureidoglycolyl transferase. The implications of these findings for ureide metabolism in legume nitrogen metabolism are discussed.

Prognostic value of serum angiogenic activity in colorectal cancer patients.

Angiogenesis, resulting from an imbalance between angiogenic activator factors and inhibitors, is required for tumour growth and metastasis. The determination of the circulating concentration of all angiogenic factors (activators and inhibitors) is not feasible at present. We have evaluated diagnostic and prognostic values of the measurement of serum angiogenic activity in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients. Serum proliferative activity (PA) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro, and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were determined by ELISA in 53 patients with primary CRC, 16 subjects with non-neoplastic gastrointestinal disease (SC) and 34 healthy individuals. Data were compared with clinical outcome of the patients. Although serum from CRC patients significantly increased the PA of HUVEC, compared to culture control (HUVEC in medium + 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS); P < 0.001); our results indicate that serum PA in CRC patients was similar to that of SC or healthy individuals. There was no correlation between serum PA and circulating VEGF concentrations. Surgery produced a decrease of PA at 8 hrs after tumour resection in CRC patients compared to pre-surgery values (186 +/- 47 versus 213 +/- 41, P < 0.001). However, an increase in serum VEGF values was observed after surgery (280 [176-450] versus 251 [160-357] pg/ml, P = 0.004). Patients with lower PA values after surgery showed a worse outcome that those with higher PA values. Therefore, this study does not support a diagnostic value for serum angiogenic activity measured by proliferative activity on HUVEC but suggests it could have a prognostic value in CRC patients.

Estudio integral de la lepra en el municipio Artemisa. Provincia Habana. Cuba. Diciembre de 1995

El objetico de este estudio es conocer las principales características y distribución de la lepra en el municipio Artemisa. Se obtuvieron los datos generales de los 38 paceintes que se encontraban en los registro de lepra en diciembre de 1995 y fueron entrevistados en su domicilio por personal de salud. Los resultados obtenidos en el cuestionario aplicado fueron verificados en la historia clínica de cada paciente en su área de salud. Los datos obtenidos se tabularon, se presentaron en tablas y se expresaron en por ciento para su análisis. Además, se ubicó en un mapa del municipio cada uno de los enfermos según la dirección de su domicilio y se estimó la tasa de enfermos por área de salud y consultorio del médico de familia. Se concluyó que el municipio de Artemisa continúa siendo un foco leprógeno autóctomo, que los enfermos de lepra están dispersos en toso el municipio, siendo el éara Las Mangas-Lincoln-Pijirigua-Paradero de Mangas la mayor detección de estos enfermos , y que existen 19 consultorios del médico de la familia con tasa de enfermos mayor de 1 x 1.000 habitantes, de los 26 consultorios con pacientes en su registro. Se recomienda adiestramiento a médicos de familia para la realización del examen dermatoneurológico y pesquizar mediante dicho examen y estudio serológico a la población de los consultórios del médico de la familia con tasa mayor de 1 x 1.000 habitantes.