Saúde, otimismo e enfrentamento em trabalhadores profissionais e não profissionais que trabalham em contextos muito estressantes

El objetivo de la presente investigación es identificar la relación entre salud, optimismo disposicional y estilos de afrontamiento en trabajadores, profesionales y no profesionales que trabajan en contextos altamente estresantes, en la ciudad de Talca, Chile. Se evaluaron 119 trabajadores de diversas instituciones dedicadas a la atención de personas vulnerables socialmente, con los siguientes instrumentos: el General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), el Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), y la Escala de Evaluación de Técnicas de Afrontamiento (COPE). Los resultados indican que un 18% de la muestra presenta una alteración en su funcionamiento emocional normal, siendo la mayoría trabajadoras no profesionales. No se encontró relación entre estado de salud reportada y optimismo disposicional; sin embargo, sí se observaron correlaciones entre estas variables y algunos estilos de afrontamiento. En el caso de la sintomatología de salud reportada, se observaron correlaciones negativas con algunos estilos que conforman el afrontamiento centrado en el problema, y correlaciones positivas con algunos estilos que conforman el afrontamiento de evitación. Por su parte, el optimismo disposicional presenta una correlación positiva con algunos estilos del factor de afrontamiento centrado en el problema, y una correlación negativa con la desconexión conductual. Estos resultados muestran que existen estilos favorecedores de la salud, como la reinterpretación positiva y el crecimiento personal, que podrían ser considerados en planes de intervención de salud y autocuidado para los trabajadores. Es necesario seguir profundizando la investigación en este contexto, incluyendo elementos organizacionales con el fin de comprender mejor las diferencias entre los trabajadores profesionales y no profesionales.O objetivo da presente pesquisa é identificar a relação entre saúde, otimismo disposicional e estilos de enfrentamento em trabalhadores profissionais e não profissionais que trabalham em contextos altamente estressantes, na cidade de Talca, Chile. Avaliaram-se 119 trabalhadores de diversas instituições dedicadas ao atendimento de pessoas vulneráveis socialmente, com os seguintes instrumentos: o General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), o Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), e a Escala de Avaliação de Técnicas de Enfrentamento (COPE). Os resultados indicam que 18% da mostra apresenta uma alteração no seu funcionamento emocional normal, sendo a maioria trabalhadoras não profissionais. Não foi encontrada relação entre o estado de saúde informado e otimismo disposicional; porém, foram observadas correlações entre essas variáveis e alguns estilos de enfrentamento. No caso da sintomatologia de saúde informada, observaram-se correlações negativas com alguns estilos que formam o enfrentamento centrado no problema, e correlações positivas com alguns estilos que foram o enfrentamento de evitação. Por sua parte, o otimismo disposicional apresenta una correlação positiva com alguns estilos do fator de enfrentamento centrado no problema, e uma correlação negativa com a desconexão conductual. Estes resultados mostram que existem estilos favorecedores da saúde, como a reinterpretação positiva e o crescimento pessoal, que poderiam ser considerados em planos de intervenção de saúde e autocuidado para os trabalhadores. É necessário continuar aprofundando a pesquisa neste contexto, incluindo elementos organizacionais com o objetivo de compreender melhor as diferenças entre os trabalhadores profissionais e não profissionais.The aim of this research is to identify the relationship between health status, dispositional optimism and coping style in professionals and non professionals working in highly stressful environments in the city of Talca-Chile. 119 professionals and non professionals from different institutions dedicated to the care of socially vulnerable people were assessed with the following questionnaires: the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), the Life Orientation Test (LOR-R) and the Stress-Management Evaluation Scale (COPE for its Spanish acronym). Results show that 18% of the participants have an alteration in their emotional well-being, a group where the majority was mainly non professional women workers. No relationship was found between self-reported health status and dispositional optimism. However, correlations were found between these variables and coping styles. In the case of reported health symptoms, there were negative correlations with coping styles that involve problem-focused coping, and positive correlations with some styles that involve avoidance coping. Meanwhile, dispositional optimism shows a positive correlation with problem-focused coping and with some styles that make up this factor, and a negative correlation with behavioral disengagement. Results show that there are health-promoting coping styles, such as positive reinterpretation and personal growth, which could be used for developing health plans and self-care interventions for these workers. It is necessary to further deepen the research in this context, including organizational elements in order to better understand the differences between professional and nonprofessional workers

Enzyme activity and colour changes in apple juice pasteurised thermally and by pulsed electric fields

Pasteurisation of apple juice by a high temperature-short time treatment (HTST) at 90 °C for 30 s was compared with a high-voltage pulsed electric field treatment (PEF). The PEF treatment was carried out using a laboratory unit set with a bipolar pulse (4 μs wide), an intensity of 35 kV cm−1, and a frequency of 1200 pulses per second (pps). Enzyme inactivation and colour changes of the treated juices were compared, using a non-treated sample as control. Enzyme residual activities of pectinmethylesterase (PME) and polyphenoloxidase (PPO), as well as the chroma index for colour, showed statistical difference between treatments. No statistical significant difference was observed for the hue colour index. PEF could be considered a feasible alternative for producing pasteurised and stable apple juice

Albergue para cuerpos de rescate y alpinistas en el Parque Nacional Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl "La Cúpula"

"Un refugio óptimo para alpinistas, el cual cubra necesidades de resguardo, protección, seguridad, buena oxigenación y temperatura adecuada, con una zona apta para primeros auxilios, descanso y almacenaje de víveres, tomando en cuenta las condiciones geográficas, climáticas, así como normas de interacción con la reserva natural, mejorará la estancia y descanso, y, por ende, el rendimiento físico y mental requerido para la continuación del viaje"

Plasmid DNA immunization with <it>Trypanosoma cruzi</it> genes induces cardiac and clinical protection against Chagas disease in the canine model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>The only existing preventive measure against American trypanosomosis, or Chagas disease, is the control of the transmitting insect, which has only been effective in a few South American regions. Currently, there is no vaccine available to prevent this disease. Here, we present the clinical and cardiac levels of protection induced by expression to <it>Trypanosoma cruzi</it> genes encoding the <it>Tc</it>SP and <it>Tc</it>SSP4 proteins in the canine model. Physical examination, diagnostic chagasic serology, and serial electrocardiograms were performed before and after immunization, as well as after experimental infection. We found that immunization with recombinant plasmids prevented hyperthermia in the acute phase of experimental infection and produced lymphadenomegaly as an immunological response against the parasite and additionally prevented heart rate elevation (tachycardia) in the acute and/or chronic stages of infection. Immunization with <it>T. cruzi</it> genes encoding the <it>Tc</it>SP and <it>Tc</it>SSP4 antigens diminished the quality and quantity of the electrocardiographic abnormalities, thereby avoiding progression to more severe developments such as right bundle branch block or ventricular premature complexes in a greater number of dogs.</p

Effect of the Plasmid-DNA Vaccination on Macroscopic and Microscopic Damage Caused by the Experimental Chronic Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in the Canine Model

The dog is considered the main domestic reservoir for Trypanosoma cruzi infection and a suitable experimental animal model to study the pathological changes during the course of Chagas disease (CD). Vaccine development is one of CD prevention methods to protect people at risk. Two plasmids containing genes encoding a trans-sialidase protein (TcSP) and an amastigote-specific glycoprotein (TcSSP4) were used as DNA vaccines in a canine model. Splenomegaly was not found in either of the recombinant plasmid-immunized groups; however, cardiomegaly was absent in animals immunized only with the plasmid containing the TcSSP4 gene. The inflammation of subendocardial and myocardial tissues was prevented only with the immunization with TcSSP4 gene. In conclusion, the vaccination with these genes has a partial protective effect on the enlargement of splenic and cardiac tissues during the chronic CD and on microscopic hearth damage, since both plasmids prevented splenomegaly but only one avoided cardiomegaly, and the lesions in heart tissue of dog immunized with plasmid containing the TcSSP4 gene covered only subepicardial tissue

Seroprevalence of human Trypanosoma cruzi infection in diferent geografic zones of Chiapas, Mexico Soroprevalência da infecção humana pelo Trypanosoma cruzi em diferentes regiões de Chiapas, México

A serologic survey was carried out in four different geographic zones of Chiapas, Mexico. A total of 1,333 samples were collected from residents of thirteen communities located on the Coast, Central Mountain, Lacandon Forest and a zone called Mesochiapas. One hundred and fifty one seropositive individuals (11.3%) were identified. Human Trypanosoma cruzi infection was influenced by geography. In the Lacandon Forest and Central Mountains there was a higher seroprevalence 32.1 and 13.8% respectively, than on the coast (1.2%). In Mesochiapas there were no seropositive individuals among the 137 persons tested. An active transmission is probably continuing because seropositive cases (13.8%) were detected in children under 10 years of age. The vector recognized on the Coast was Triatoma dimidiata while in the Lacandon Forest it was Rhodnius prolixus.<br>Foi feito um estudo sorológico em quatro zonas geográficas do estado de Chiapas México. Foram colhidas 1333 amostras dos habitantes das 13 comunidades situadas na costa, na região central montanhosa, na floresta lacandona e na região chamada mesochiapas. Cento cinqüenta e uma pessoas (11,3%) foram identificadas como soropositivas. A infecção pelo Trypanosoma cruzi teve a influência da geografia local. Na floresta lacandona nas montanhas centrais, foi encontrada uma prevalência de 32,1 e 13,8% respectivamente, mais que na costa 1,2%. Na zona de mesochiapas não foi encontrada nenhuma pessoa com sorologia positiva entre 137 estudadas. Como encontramos sorologia positiva em crianças menores de 10 anos, pensamos que exista uma transmissão ativa contínua. Na costa foi reconhecido o vetor Triatoma dimidiata e na floresta Lacandona o Rhodnius prolixus