Theoretical-experimental study on protein-ligand interactions based on thermodynamics methods, molecular docking and perturbation models

The current doctoral thesis focuses on understanding the thermodynamic events of protein-ligand interactions which have been of paramount importance from traditional Medicinal Chemistry to Nanobiotechnology. Particular attention has been made on the application of state-of-the-art methodologies to address thermodynamic studies of the protein-ligand interactions by integrating structure-based molecular docking techniques, classical fractal approaches to solve protein-ligand complementarity problems, perturbation models to study allosteric signal propagation, predictive nano-quantitative structure-toxicity relationship models coupled with powerful experimental validation techniques. The contributions provided by this work could open an unlimited horizon to the fields of Drug-Discovery, Materials Sciences, Molecular Diagnosis, and Environmental Health Sciences

Identification and characterization of mouse otic sensory lineage genes

Vertebrate embryogenesis gives rise to all cell types of an organism through the development of many unique lineages derived from the three primordial germ layers. The otic sensory lineage arises from the otic vesicle, a structure formed through invagination of placodal non-neural ectoderm. This developmental lineage possesses unique differentiation potential, giving rise to otic sensory cell populations including hair cells, supporting cells, and ganglion neurons of the auditory and vestibular organs. Here we present a systematic approach to identify transcriptional features that distinguish the otic sensory lineage (from early otic progenitors to otic sensory populations) from other major lineages of vertebrate development. We used a microarray approach to analyze otic sensory lineage populations including microdissected otic vesicles (embryonic day 10.5) as well as isolated neonatal cochlear hair cells and supporting cells at postnatal day 3. Non-otic tissue samples including periotic tissues and whole embryos with otic regions removed were used as reference populations to evaluate otic specificity. Otic populations shared transcriptome-wide correlations in expression profiles that distinguish members of this lineage from non-otic populations. We further analyzed the microarray data using comparative and dimension reduction methods to identify individual genes that are specifically expressed in the otic sensory lineage. This analysis identified and ranked top otic sensory lineage-specific transcripts including Fbxo2, Col9a2, and Oc90, and additional novel otic lineage markers. To validate these results we performed expression analysis on select genes using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Fbxo2 showed the most striking pattern of specificity to the otic sensory lineage, including robust expression in the early otic vesicle and sustained expression in prosensory progenitors and auditory and vestibular hair cells and supporting cells

Indicadores para avaliar habilidades motoras no primeiro ciclo do ensino fundamental

This research paper presents a proposal of criteria to assess the basic motor skills: running, jumping, throwing, and the coordination adjustment ability in Physical Education during the first cycle of elementary education. After analyzing the current assessment system for this level, we believe that —in accordance with the requirement that Physical Education teachers must satisfy concerning their students’ achievements—the course objectives can include assessment indicators which allow for a higher control of the goals reached in the grades of the cycle. For this purpose, the authors assigned numerical values to theoretical knowledge on the skills, as well as to fluency and effectiveness of the motor action performed. They took into consideration that the abilities chosen are essential to deal with more complex sports in class sessions, projects and skills in upper grades. The experimental approach applied showed that the teacher can compare the results—both practical and theoretical—obtained from one grade to another, so that he/she can make a more objectiveEste artículo derivado de investigación plantea una propuesta de indicadores para evaluar las habilidades motrices básicas: correr, saltar, lanzar y la capacidad coordinativa de acoplamiento en la asignatura Educación Física, en el primer ciclo de la educación primaria. Después de un estudio del sistema actual de evaluación en este nivel, consideramos que de acuerdo con la exigencia que deben cumplir los profesores de Educación Física para el logro de los objetivos por parte de los alumnos, estos objetivos pueden incorporar indicadores evaluativos que les permitan tener un mayor control de los alcances en los grados que integran el ciclo. Para ello se les asignan valores numéricos a los conocimientos teóricos de las habilidades, así como a la fluidez y efectividad de la acción motriz realizada, teniendo en cuenta que las habilidades seleccionadas son fundamentales para enfrentar en grados posteriores los deportes motivo de clases, proyectos y habilidades más complejas. El método experimental aplicado demostró que el profesor puede comparar los resultados, tanto teóricos como prácticos, obtenidos de un grado a otro, para así realizar una entrega pedagógica más objetiva al segundo ciclo. Este trabajo responde a la búsqueda de herramientas del profesional para hacer más efectivo y confiable su trabajo en consonancia con los requerimientos actuales, según los cuales el alumno es objeto y sujeto de su aprendizaje.Este artigo derivado da pesquisa propõe uma proposta de indicadores para avaliar as habilidades motoras básicas: corrida, salto, arremesso e capacidade de coordenação do acoplamento na disciplina Educação Física, no primeiro ciclo do ensino fundamental. Após um estudo do atual sistema de avaliação neste nível, consideramos que, de acordo com a exigência que os professores de Educação Física devem cumprir para atingir os objetivos pelos alunos, esses objetivos podem incorporar indicadores de avaliação que lhes permitam ter maior controle dos alcances nos graus que compõem o ciclo. Para isso, valores numéricos são atribuídos ao conhecimento teórico das habilidades, bem como à fluidez e efetividade da ação motora realizada, levando em conta que as habilidades selecionadas são fundamentais para enfrentar nas séries posteriores os esportes das aulas, projetos e habilidades mais complexas. O método experimental aplicado mostrou que o professor pode comparar os resultados, tanto teóricos quanto práticos, obtidos de um grau ao outro, a fim de fazer uma entrega pedagógica mais objetiva ao segundo ciclo. Este trabalho responde à busca de ferramentas profissionais para tornar seu trabalho mais efetivo e confiável, de acordo com as exigências atuais, segundo as quais o aluno é objeto e sujeito de sua aprendizagem

UNA REFLEXIÓN EN TORNO A LA FORMACIÓN DE VALORES EN LOS ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS

Education in values is a task and a challenge in the society, therefore, is it necessary to think and consider about on the current imperatives and the necessity of prepare a comprehensive professional with human behavior, classist and with the values that the society demands as an essential base in their training. For student not only is important to get an education rich in values that contribute to strengthening their human, but understand in its totality the process of the assessment in their professional connection with the society, moreover identify the main moral values that should prevails among professional, offering conclusions. This paper provides a review of the different criteria about the values concept and the importance of these in students. Values Education is a continuo process that beginning with care and education of children in the family and extends to the university and is there where they play a fundamental role.La educación en valores es una tarea y un reto para la sociedad; por ello, resulta necesario reflexionar y meditar en relación con los imperativos actuales y la necesidad de formar un profesional integralmente con un comportamiento humanista clasista y con los valores que exige la sociedad como pilar fundamental de su formación. Para los estudiantes no solo es importante recibir una educación rica en valores que coadyuve al fortalecimiento de su formación humanista, sino también comprender en su totalidad el proceso de la valoración en su relación profesional con la sociedad, además se identifican los principales valores morales que deben primar en los profesionales, ofreciéndose conclusiones. El trabajo ofrece una revisión de los diferentes criterios acerca del concepto de valores y la importancia de la formación de estos en los estudiantes. La educación de valores es un proceso continuo que comienza con la atención y educación del niño en la familia y se extiende hasta la universidad y es ahí donde juegan un papel primordial

Fate of iPSCs Derived from Azoospermic and Fertile Men following Xenotransplantation to Murine Seminiferous Tubules

SummaryHistorically, spontaneous deletions and insertions have provided means to probe germline developmental genetics in Drosophila, mouse and other species. Here, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines were derived from infertile men with deletions that encompass three Y chromosome azoospermia factor (AZF) regions and are associated with production of few or no sperm but normal somatic development. AZF-deleted iPSC lines were compromised in germ cell development in vitro. Undifferentiated iPSCs transplanted directly into murine seminiferous tubules differentiated extensively to germ-cell-like cells (GCLCs) that localized near the basement membrane, demonstrated morphology indistinguishable from fetal germ cells, and expressed germ-cell-specific proteins diagnostic of primordial germ cells. Alternatively, all iPSCs that exited tubules formed primitive tumors. iPSCs with AZF deletions produced significantly fewer GCLCs in vivo with distinct defects in gene expression. Findings indicate that xenotransplantation of human iPSCs directs germ cell differentiation in a manner dependent on donor genetic status

Common mental disorders and sociodemographic characteristics: baseline findings of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

Introduction: the patients admitted to the Crisis Intervention Unit (UIC) have not been characterized in the "Luis Ramírez López" Provincial Psychiatric Hospital of the Guantánamo province.Objective: to characterize hospital admissions in said unit in the period 2015-2017.Method: a descriptive and retrospective study of the patients admitted to this unit was carried out (n=538). The variables were studied: age, sex, origin, diagnosis and stay.Results: the highest proportion of admitted patients was between 18 and 23 years old (21.9%), they were female (53.9%), they came from the Guantanamo municipality (42.0%), the most frequent diagnosis was Depressive adjustment disorder (27.9%) and 66.4% had a hospital stay of less than 7 days.Conclusions: Patients in the productive stage of life were admitted to the Crisis Intervention Unit, especially women with depressive disorders, which shows the social relevance of their study.Introducción: en el Hospital Psiquiátrico Provincial "Luis Ramírez López" de la provincia Guantánamo no se han caracterizado los pacientes ingresados en la Unidad de Intervención en Crisis (UIC).Objetivo: caracterizar las admisiones hospitalarias en la citada unidad en el periodo comprendido 2015-2017.Método: se realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo de los pacientes que ingresaron en esta unidad (n=538). Se estudiaron las variables: edad, sexo, procedencia, diagnóstico y estadía.Resultados: la mayor proporción de los pacientes admitidos tenía entre 18 y 23 años (21,9 %), eran del sexo femenino (53,9 %), procedieron del municipio Guantánamo (42,0 %), el diagnóstico más frecuente fue el trastorno de adaptación depresivo (27,9 %) y el 66,4 % tuvo una estadía hospitalaria menor de 7 días.Conclusiones: en la Unidad de Intervención en Crisis se admitieron pacientes en la etapa productiva de la vida, sobre todo mujeres con trastornos depresivos, lo que muestra la pertinencia social de su estudio.Introdução: os pacientes admitidos na Unidade de Intervenção de Crise (UIC) não foram caracterizados no Hospital Psiquiátrico Provincial "Luis Ramírez López" da Província de Guantánamo.Objetivo: caracterizar internações hospitalares na referida unidade no período 2015-2017.Método: estudo descritivo e retrospectivo dos pacientes admitidos nesta unidade (n=538). As variáveis foram estudadas: idade, sexo, origem, diagnóstico e permanência.Resultados: a maior proporção de pacientes internados foi entre 18 e 23 anos (21,9%), eram do sexo feminino (53,9%), procedentes do município de Guantánamo (42,0%), o diagnóstico mais frequente foi Transtorno de ajuste depressivo (27,9%) e 66,4% tiveram internação hospitalar inferior a 7 dias.Conclusões: pacientes em estágio produtivo de vida foram admitidos na Unidade de Intervenção à Crise, especialmente mulheres com transtornos depressivos, o que mostra a relevância social de seu estudo

Autocuidado da saúde do diabético em idosos da Policlínica de Ensino “Marcio Manduley Murillo”, Havana 2018

Introduction: the education of patients with diabetes mellitus based on self-care of their health is a social requirement.Objective: design an educational intervention aimed at raising the preparation for self-care of diabetological health of elderly patients dispensed in the office No. 4 of the Teaching Polyclinic "Marcio Manduley Murillo", Centro Habana Municipality, Havana.Method: a descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional and educational intervention study was carried out. The following variables were studied: age, sex, marital status, schooling, type of diabetes, evolution time, metabolic control and complications of this disease. The level of preparation of patients for self-care of diabetes health was explored. An educational intervention aimed at its preparation for self-care of diabetological health was designed, applied and validated.Results: it was more common for patients to be 65 to 69 years old (48.6%), were women (59.8%), divorced (25.0%), with a basic secondary school level (40.3 %), type II diabetes mellitus (90.4%) over 15 years of evolution (40.3%). 72.2% had uncontrolled disease and 52.2% evidence of target organ damage. Only 16.7% had an adequate level of preparation regarding diabetes mellitus, which improved up to 93.0% after applying an educational intervention.Conclusions: the need to educate patients about the topic and the viability of the educational intervention designed to achieve this purpose was expressed.Introducción: la educación del paciente con diabetes mellitus en función del autocuidado de su salud es una exigencia social.Objetivo: diseñar una intervención educativa dirigida a elevar la preparación para el autocuidado de la salud diabetológica de pacientes adultos mayores dispensarizados en el consultorio No. 4 del Policlínico Docente “Marcio Manduley Murillo”, municipio Centro Habana, La Habana.Método: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, prospectivo, transversal y de intervención educativa. Se estudiaron las siguientes variables: edad, sexo, estado civil, escolaridad, tipo de diabetes, tiempo evolución, control metabólico y complicaciones de esta enfermedad. Se exploró el nivel de preparación de los pacientes para el autocuidado de la salud diabetológica. Se diseñó, aplicó y validó una intervención educativa dirigida a su preparación para el autocuidado de la salud diabetológica.Resultados: fue más común que los pacientes tuvieran 65 a 69 años de edad (48,6 %), fueran mujeres (59,8 %), divorciados (25,0 %), con un nivel escolar de secundaria básica (40,3 %), diabetes mellitus tipo II (90,4 %) de más de 15 años de evolución (40,3 %). El 72,2 % tenía descontrol de la enfermedad y el 52,2 % evidencias de daño de órganos dianas. Solo el 16,7 % tenía un adecuado nivel de preparación respecto al tema diabetes mellitus, que mejoró hasta un 93,0 % luego de aplicar una intervención educativa.Conclusiones: se manifestó la necesidad de educar a los pacientes sobre el tema y la viabilidad de la intervención educativa diseñada para el logro de esta finalidad.Introdução: a educação de pacientes com diabetes mellitus com base no autocuidado de sua Saúde é uma necesidade social.Objetivo: elaborar uma intervenção educacional com o objetivo de elevar a preparação para o autocuidado da saúde diabetológica de pacientes idosos dispensados no consultório nº 4 da Policlínica de Ensino "Marcio Manduley Murillo", município de Centro Habana, Havana.Método: estudo descritivo, prospectivo, transversal e educacional. Foram estudadas as seguintes variáveis: idade, sexo, estado civil, escolaridade, tipo de diabetes, tempo de evolução, controle metabólico e complicações desta doença. O nível de preparação dos pacientes para o autocuidado da saúde do diabetes foi explorado. Foi projetada, aplicada e validada uma intervenção educativa voltada à sua preparação para o autocuidado da saúde diabetológica.Resultados: os pacientes com idade entre 65 e 69 anos (48,6%) eram mais comuns: mulheres (59,8%), divorciadas (25,0%), com ensino médio básico (40,3%). %), diabetes mellitus tipo II (90,4%) ao longo de 15 anos de evolução (40,3%). 72,2% tinham doença não controlada e 52,2% evidenciam danos nos órgãos-alvo. Apenas 16,7% apresentaram nível adequado de preparo para diabetes mellitus, que aumentou para 93,0% após a aplicação de uma intervenção educativa.Conclusões: expressou-se a necessidade de educar os pacientes sobre o tema e a viabilidade da intervenção educacional projetada para atingir esse objetivo

Desarrollo del valor antiimperialismo a través del análisis de la obra “Operación Peter Pan”. (Original)

The essence of the research is inserted in the preparation of Military Education Department professors of the University of Moa to develop the anti-imperialism value in the first-year students of the Electrical Engineering career through the analysis of the work “Operation Peter Pan. A case of psychological warfare against Cuba” in the Defense Preparation discipline, as a result of the bibliographic review of theoretical elements that should be taken into account for it. The actuality of the research responds to one of the priorities established by the normative documents and the current demands for university education, which is the development of values, that is why it is valid in the current context in which education is developed in Cuba and be one of the contemporary trends in science didactics in the new Cuban university. The proposed methodological strategy offers actions to be carried out in different periods of time and it facilitates their execution at all times of the course, allows the integral preparation of the teacher and his action with the students in the three dimensions, curricular, university extension and socio-political activities, also encourages strengthening the methodological teaching work with emphasis on the development of the anti-imperialism value.La esencia de la investigación se inserta en la preparación de los profesores del Departamento de Enseñanza Militar de la Universidad de Moa para desarrollar el valor antiimperialismo en los estudiantes de primer año de la carrera Ingeniería Eléctrica a través del análisis de la obra “Operación Peter Pan. Un caso de guerra psicológica contra Cuba” en la disciplina Preparación para la Defensa, producto de la revisión bibliográfica de elementos teóricos que deben tenerse en cuenta para la misma. La investigación responde a una de las prioridades que establecen los documentos normativos y las exigencias actuales para la educación universitaria, que es el desarrollo de los valores, por lo que tiene vigencia en el contexto actual en que se desarrolla la educación en Cuba y ser una de las tendencias contemporáneas de la didáctica de las ciencias en la nueva universidad cubana. La estrategia metodológica propuesta, ofrece acciones a desarrollar en distintos plazos de tiempo y facilita su ejecución durante todo el curso, lo que permite la preparación integral del profesor y su accionar con los estudiantes en las tres dimensiones, curricular, extensión universitaria y las actividades sociopolíticas. Propicia además fortalecer el trabajo docente metodológico con énfasis en el desarrollo del valor antiimperialismo