La danza y la religiosidad popular: Los matachines de Ciudad Juárez

La expresión de sentimientos, emociones y sensaciones mediante el cuerpo es un recurso recurrente cuando las palabras no alcanzan a materializar la significatividad del momento. Por tanto, la danza se considera como una forma de comunicación cuya alta potencialidad expresiva permite que se lleve a cabo el proceso de semiosis ilimitada del que hablan Peirce y Eco, en el que el signo danza es entendido como un instante, que “no se puede interpretar […] sin traducirlo a otros signos —sean o no del mismo sistema semiótico—” (Zeccheto et al., 2005, p. 205). Por ende, la danza ofrece una amplia gama de respuestas interpretativas, tanto para quien la ejecuta como para quien la observa. Por tanto, la conexión entre la religiosidad y la danza no es arbitraria, pues ambas son el medio que permite la enunciación de creencias e ideologías que van más allá de la comprensión habitual de los individuos

Compromising between European and US allergen immunotherapy schools: Discussions from GUIMIT, the Mexican immunotherapy guidelines

Background: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has a longstanding history and still remains the only disease-changing treatment for allergic rhinitis and asthma. Over the years 2 different schools have developed their strategies: the United States (US) and the European. Allergen extracts available in these regions are adapted to local practice. In other parts of the world, extracts from both regions and local ones are commercialized, as in Mexico. Here, local experts developed a national AIT guideline (GUIMIT 2019) searching for compromises between both schools. Methods: Using ADAPTE methodology for transculturizing guidelines and AGREE-II for evaluating guideline quality, GUIMIT selected 3 high-quality Main Reference Guidelines (MRGs): the European Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (EAACI) guideines, the S2k guideline of various German-speaking medical societies (2014), and the US Practice Parameters on Allergen Immunotherapy 2011. We formulated clinical questions and based responses on the fused evidence available in the MRGs, combined with local possibilities, patient's preference, and costs. We came across several issues on which the MRGs disagreed. These are presented here along with arguments of GUIMIT members to resolve them. GUIMIT (for a complete English version, see Supplementary data) concluded the following: Results: Related to the diagnosis of IgE-mediated respiratory allergy, apart from skin prick testing complementary tests (challenges, in vitro testing and molecular such as species-specific allergens) might be useful in selected cases to inform AIT composition. AIT is indicated in allergic rhinitis and suggested in allergic asthma (once controlled) and IgE-mediated atopic dermatitis. Concerning the correct subcutaneous AIT dose for compounding vials according to the US school: dosing tables and formula are given; up to 4 non-related allergens can be mixed, refraining from mixing high with low protease extracts. When using European extracts: the manufacturer's indications should be followed; in multi-allergic patients 2 simultaneous injections can be given (100% consensus); mixing is discouraged. In Mexico only allergoid tablets are available; based on doses used in all sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) publications referenced in MRGs, GUIMIT suggests a probable effective dose related to subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) might be: 50–200% of the monthly SCIT dose given daily, maximum mixing 4 allergens. Also, a table with practical suggestions on non-evidence-existing issues, developed with a simplified Delphi method, is added. Finally, dissemination and implementation of guidelines is briefly discussed, explaining how we used online tools for this in Mexico. Conclusions: Countries where European and American AIT extracts are available should adjust AIT according to which school is followed

Dance and popular religiosity: the matachines in Ciudad Juárez

When words are not enough to express the significance of one moment, then the body becomes the recurrent source for expressing emotions and feelings. That is why dance is considered as a media with such high expressive potential that enables the process of unlimited semiosis, mentioned by Peirce and Eco in which the sign —dance— is understood as an instant that “cannot be interpreted [...] without translating into other signs —wheter or not they belong to the same semiotic system—” (Zeccheto et al., 2005, p. 205). In other words, dance offers a wide range of interpretative responses to both, the performer and the viewer. Therefore, is not surprising the connection between religion and dance, since both are the medium of manifestation that support the enunciative necessity of beliefs and ideologies that, most of the time, go beyond the habitual understanding of the individuals

Las guías de las danzas de matachines de Ciudad Juárez: Análisis como objetos de diseño

En las danzas de matachines convergen una gran cantidad de objetos representativos que, desde el ámbito visual, denotan la relevancia y significatividad de dicha práctica para los miembros de su comunidad; por lo que resulta interesante observar cómo el diseño se imbrica en la elaboración de tales objetos, pues a pesar de que los diseños parten de la propia tradición religiosa y popular es innegable el uso de nociones empíricas de equilibrio, repetición, color y funcionalidad, añadiendo efectos visuales y armónicos en los objetos. En este texto nos enfocamos en el análisis de algunos ejemplos de las guías de las danzas de matachines, a través del modelo operativo del nonágono semiótico, para exponer nuestra propuesta de considerar a las guías como objetos de diseño