Women in Transition – Menopause and Body Composition in Different Populations

Human biology has provided valuable and applicable points of view to contribute towards human welfare, when it has analyzed changes in the transitional phases of the ontogenetic process. The purpose of this presentation coincides with WHO recommendations to study the modifications suffered by the female body during her stage of reproductive aging in different environments. We study and compared three different groups of women living in the cities of Madrid (Spain), Havana (Cuba) and in Tuxpan, a village in the State of Michoacán (Mexico). Three groups differed with respect to their socio-economic levels, food habits, social organization and culture. We used the same anthropometric techniques, recommended by the IBP, and same tools to assess the women\u27s reproductive life, demography and socio-economic condition. All three groups coincidences regarding the remodelation of their thorax, so after 55 years of age their waist-hip ratio surpassed the cut point of 0.80, associated whit higher risk for chronic cardiovascular disorders. However, examined groups differed, for instance, the rural Mexican women altered their bone density earlier, five years before the urban samples. Next, Mexican women of younger ages maintained high levels of their body mass index above the cut point for overweight

Competencias profesionales de los bibliotecarios de ciencias de la salud en el siglo XXI

The XXI Century faces librarians with great challenges, as a consequence of the development of new technologies and their incorporation to different scenarios where information takes forms beyond the traditional products and services of a library. The changes that have characterized the transit towards a different paradigm for the scientific information activity are approached. An analysis is made of the need of developing new abilities and knowledge among librarians, as part of a process of informational literacy. The differences between the traditional librarian model and the model of the management librarian are stated, and some of the professional competences librarians should develop to deal with the new functions imposed to them by the information society are established

Wide Range Applications of Spirulina: From Earth to Space Missions

Spirulina is the most studied cyanobacterium species for both pharmacological applications and the food industry. The aim of the present review is to summarize the potential benefits of the use of Spirulina for improving healthcare both in space and on Earth. Regarding the first field of application, Spirulina could represent a new technology for the sustainment of long-duration manned missions to planets beyond the Lower Earth Orbit (e.g., Mars); furthermore, it could help astronauts stay healthy while exposed to a variety of stress factors that can have negative consequences even after years. As far as the second field of application, Spirulina could have an active role in various aspects of medicine, such as metabolism, oncology, ophthalmology, central and peripheral nervous systems, and nephrology. The recent findings of the capacity of Spirulina to improve stem cells mobility and to increase immune response have opened new intriguing scenarios in oncological and infectious diseases, respectively

Caracterización de ensilajes in vitro de hollejo de naranja valencia (Citrus sinensis) con diferentes por cientos de inclusión de tallos de caña de azúcar

An in vitro silage made of orange (Citrus sinensis) husk and sugarcane stems was characterized. Sugarcane stems inclusion levels ranged from 0 %, 15 % to 30 % (dry basis) and constituted different treatments. A completely randomized design with three replicas was applied. Ph and lactic acid dynamics were determined at 0; 4; 10; 20; 30; 50, and 60 days after initiating the process, while dry matter, ashes, raw protein, ether extract, calcium, and phosphorus contents were characterized at the beginning and end of the process, i.e., at 0 and 60 days. Ph reached optimum values according to the process range (less than 4), as well as lactic acid concentration (less than 2,7 %). Bromatological index variation was influenced by sugarcane inclusion level. At 60 days, raw protein contents remained the same (7,9 % and 9,2 %), while raw fiber contents differed (P<0,05) reaching values between 23,5 % and 41,9 %. Generally, good quality silage is obtained by adding up to 30 % (dry basis) of sugarcane stems.Se caracterizaron ensilajes in vitro de hollejo de naranja valencia (Citrus sinensis) con 0; 15 y 30 % de inclusión, base seca, de tallos de caña de azúcar. Se empleó un diseño totalmente aleatorizado con tres repeticiones y los tratamientos fueron los niveles de inclusión de caña de azúcar. A los días 0; 4; 10; 20; 30; 50 y 60 días de iniciado el proceso se determinó la dinámica del pH y ácido láctico, y al inicio y final del proceso (0 y 60 días) se caracterizó el contenido de materia seca, cenizas, proteína bruta, extracto etéreo, calcio y fósforo. Se obtuvieron valores de pH dentro del rango óptimo para este proceso (inferior a 4), al igual que la concentración de ácido láctico (inferior a 2,7 %). Las variaciones de los indicadores bromatológicos estudiados estuvieron influenciadas por el nivel de inclusión de tallo de caña de azúcar. A los 60 días los contenidos de proteína bruta no difirieron, con valores entre 7,9 y 9,2 %; mientras que los de fibra cruda difirieron entre sí (P < 0,05), con valores entre 23,5 y 41,9 %. En general se logra un ensilaje de buena calidad con la adición de hasta 30 %, base seca, de tallos molidos de caña de azúcar

Waist circumference percentiles for Hispanic-American children and comparison with other international references

Introduction Waist circumference (WC) constitutes an indirect measurement of central obesity in children and adolescents. Objective To provide percentiles of WC for Hispanic-American children and adolescents, and compare them with other international references. Materials and methods The sample comprised 13 289 healthy children between 6 and 18 years coming from public schools of middle and low socioeconomic levels in different parts of Argentina, Cuba, Spain, Mexico, and Venezuela. The LMS method to calculate WC percentiles was applied. Sex and age differences were assessed using Student'sttest and ANOVA (SPSS v.21.0). Comparisons were established with references from the United States, Colombia, India, China, Australia, Kuwait, Germany, Tunisia, Greece, and Portugal. Results WC increases with age in both sexes. Boys show higher WC in P3, P50, and P97. Comparison of 50th and 90th percentiles among populations from diverse sociocultural and geographical contexts shows high variability, not all justified by the measurement method. Discussion and conclusions Specific WC percentiles for sex and age, and P90 cut-off points are provided; these values are potentially useful to assess central obesity in Hispanic-American adolescent children

Tareas docentes intradisciplinarias para la asignatura Células, Tejidos y Sistema Tegumentario en la Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina

Introducción: La orientación, realización y evaluación de la tarea docente integradora ocupa un lugar importante dentro del proceso de enseñanza- aprendizaje en la Educación Médica Superior. En el contexto de un aprendizaje intradisciplinario los estudiantes adquieren mayor nivel de integración y generalización entre los conocimientos adquiridos en las diferentes asignaturas de una misma disciplina. Objetivo: Determinar los fundamentos teóricos- metodológicos para la elaboración de tareas docentes intradisciplinarias de la asignatura Célula, Tejidos y Sistema Tegumentario y Biología Molecular en el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje de la carrera de medicina en nuestra facultad.Facultad de Odontologí

Valor nutritivo in vitro de ensilajes de hollejo fresco de cítrico (Citrus sinensis) con bagacillo de caña de azúcar (Saccharum officinarum)

Five-kilogram nylon bags containing citrus pulp from orange and sugar cane bagasse pith silage in ratios of 100:0; 90:10; 80:20; 70:30, and 60:0 % , respectively, were sealed and opened go days later to determine in vitro digestibility parameters. The in vitro gas production technique using bovine feces as inoculum as well as the p = a + b (1-e-ct) equation were applied to find out the potential (a + b) parameters and gas production (c) speed. After a 60-hour incubation period, the energy contribution to all silage ruminal microorganisms was minimal. Significant differences (P<0,05) concerning treatments in in vitro gas accumulative production at 24; 48, and 72 incubation hours were detected. This finding together with in vitro digestibility parameters showed a higher food value associated to a higher content of citrus pulp from orange. Silages with 100 % and 90 % citrus pulp from orange content proved their higher food value for ruminant feeding, and their quality can be compared to that of the best forage. The inclusion of bagasse pith up to a 10 % level in these silages is recommended.Se elaboraron ensilajes en bolsas de nailon de 5 kg de capacidad, con niveles de hollejo fresco de naranja:bagacillo de caña de azúcar de 100:0; 90:10; 80:20; 70:30 y 60:0 %. Se abrieron a los 60 días para determinar sus parámetros de digestibilidad in vitro. Se empleó la técnica de producción de gas in vitro con heces bovinas recién depuestas como inóculo y la ecuación p = a + b (1 - e-ct) para determinar los parámetros de potencial (a+b) y velocidad de producción de gas (c). Después de las 60 horas de incubación, la contribución energética a los microorganismos ruminales de todos los ensilajes, es mínima. Existieron diferencias significativas (P<0,05) entre tratamientos en la producción acumulada de gas in vitro a las 24; 48 y 72 horas de incubación, que unido a los parámetros de la digestibilidad in vitro demuestran un mayor valor nutritivo asociado con el aumento de la inclusión del hollejo de naranja. Los ensilajes con 100 y 90 % de hollejo tienen un alto valor nutritivo para la alimentación de animales rumiantes, y se pueden comparar con forrajes de elevada calidad. Se sugiere emplear ensilajes con niveles de hasta el 10 % de bagacillo

MODELACIÓN Y PREDICCIÓN PARA MOLUSCOS CON ANGIOSTRONGILOSIS EN LA PROVINCIA VILLA CLARA, CUBA UTILIZANDO LA REGRESIÓN OBJETIVA REGRESIVA (ROR)

El objetivo de la investigación consistió en modelar la serie de datos bimestral de moluscos, para la angiostrongilosis total en la provincia Villa Clara, Cuba en el período comprendido desde el año 2004 hasta el 2015 y pronosticar el comportamiento hasta el año 2020 de esta entidad. Se utilizaron dos metodologías: la Metodología Objetiva Regresiva (ROR) y la regresión con variables dummy, lo cual permitió la elaboración de tres modelos: (1) el de la variable climática que mayor influencia tuvo en la entidad angiostrongilosis utilizando variables dummy; (2) una modelación empleando variables Dummy para la angiostrongilosis y por último, (3) la utilización de la metodología ROR empleando como variables independientes, las predichas en los anteriores modelos. Se obtuvieron coeficientes de correlación entre el valor real y el pronóstico de R =1,0 para el modelo 1, con un error de 0,69 ºC, para el modelo 2, R=0,96 con un error de 338,02 casos, y el tercer modelo R=0,96, con un error de 324,15. La tendencia de la angiostrongilosis fue positiva, donde un aumento de temperatura media traerá aparejado un aumento de la angiostrongilosis, para el año 2020, donde deben presentarse valores superiores a los del año 2015 si se mantiene la tendencia. Se concluye que el modelo 3 es el de menores errores y mayor correlación entre valores reales y pronosticados, la tendencia es significativa al aumento para la temperatura máxima y para la angiostrongilosis

Phytochemical study and antioxidant capacity of three fractions from the stem of Caesalpinia bahamensis Lam.

Context: Caesalpinia bahamensis Lam. is a medicinal plant used by the Cuban population to treat renal and hepatic diseases. However, this species lacks scientific studies that support its biological applications. Aims: To evaluate the chemical composition and the antioxidant capacity of fractions obtained from the stem of Caesalpinia bahamensis Lam. Methods: A continuous extraction of the stem was made by maceration using a battery of solvents of increasing polarity: chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol. All fractions were analyzed by TLC and phytochemical screening. The compounds of the chloroform fraction were identified by GC/MS, while the ethyl acetate and methanol fractions were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by the DPPH and FRAP assays. Results: Ten compounds were identified by GC/MS of the chloroform fraction, associated with fatty acids, terpenoids and phytosterols. The major compounds of this fraction were octacosanol, monopalmitin and palmitic acid. The presence of flavonoids in the ethyl acetate and methanol fractions was demonstrated by phytochemical screening, TLC and UV spectroscopy. The three fractions showed antioxidant capacity in the DPPH assay, with the methanol fraction (IC50=11.1 µg/mL) being the most active. The ethyl acetate fraction (equivalent to 100.7 µmol ascorbic acid) and the methanol fraction (equivalent to 37.3 µmol ascorbic acid) showed antioxidant capacity in the FRAP assay at concentrations of 125 µg/mL and 1000 µg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: The fractions evaluated showed antioxidant capacity in the DPPH and FRAP assays, possibly associated with the presence of phenols and flavonoids

Association between meal intake behaviour and abdominal obesity in Spanish adults

The study aims to evaluate the association between abdominal obesity with meal intake behaviour such as having a forenoon meal, having an afternoon meal and snacking. This cross-sectional study includes n=1314 participants aged 20-79 who were interviewed during the Cardiac health "Semanas del Corazon" events in four Spanish cities (Madrid, Las Palmas, Seville and Valencia) in 2008. Waist circumference, weight and height were assessed to determine abdominal obesity (waist circumference:≥88cm in women and ≥102cm in men) and BMI, respectively. The intake of forenoon and afternoon meal and snacking between the participants' regular meals were assessed with a questionnaire that also included individual risk factors. The information obtained about diet was required to calculate an Unhealthy Habit Score and a score reflecting the Achievement of Dietary Guidelines. Adjusted logistic regressions were used to examine the association between abdominal obesity and the mentioned meal intake behaviour controlling for sex, age, individual risk factors, BMI and diet. Having an afternoon meal (OR 0.60; 95% CI (0.41-0.88)) was negatively associated with abdominal obesity after adjusting for all confounders, whereas the positive association of snacking (OR 1.39; 95% CI (1.05-1.85)) was not independent of BMI (OR 1.25; 95% CI (0.84-1.87)). Taking a forenoon meal did not show any associations (OR 0.92; 95% CI (0.63-1.34)) with abdominal obesity. The results obtained could be helpful in the promotion of healthy habits in nutritional education programmes and also in health programmes preventing abdominal obesity.Fil: Keller, Kristin. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Rodríguez López, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Carmenate Moreno, Margarita M.. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; Españ