Flourensia fiebrigii S.F. blake: A medicinal plant from the Argentinean highlands with potential use as anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Flourensia fiebrigii is a plant used in traditional medicine in the Argentine Calchaquí Valley as purgative, expectorant, anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to analyze the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of F. fiebrigii leaf and stem, the phytochemical composition of leaves ethanolic extracts and to validate its traditional use as anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The macroscopic and microscopic description of F. fiebrigii leaf and stem was carried out. Two extracts (immersions and tinctures) from leaves were obtained. The phytochemical analysis and UHPLC-OT-MS metabolome fingerprinting of both extracts were performed. The anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory activities of both extracts were determined using enzymatic inhibition assays of xanthine-oxidase (XOD), secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) and lipoxygenase (LOX). RESULTS: The macroscopic and micrographic characters of F. fiebrigii were described to allow the botanical characterization of the plant species. The leaves extracts showed a high level of phenolic compounds with similar chromatographic patterns. Forty-five compounds were identified based on UHPLC-OT-MS including several sesquiterpenes, chalcones, flavonoids, isoflavonoids, a lignan and phenylpropanoids phenolic acids that have been identified for the first time in this plant species. F. fiebrigii extracts were able to inhibit the XOD activity and, consequently, the formation of uric acid and reactive oxygen species, primary cause of diseases, such as gouty arthritis (IC50 values of 1.10-2.12 µg/mL). Pro-inflammatory enzymes like sPLA2 and LOX were also inhibited by F. fiebrigii extracts (IC50 values of 22.00-2.20 µg/mL) decreasing the production of inflammation mediators. CONCLUSIONS: The present work validates the traditional medicinal use of F. fiebrigii as anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory through the use of enzymatic assays. The presence of several chemical compounds with demonstrated anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory properties also supports the bioactivity of the F. fiebrigii.

Ethnopsychopharmacology study of patients' beliefs regarding concerns about and necessity of taking psychiatric medications.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether or not cultural differences influence beliefs about the necessity of taking prescribed psychiatric drugs and concern about their adverse effects in psychiatric outpatients in Spain, Argentina, and Venezuela. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1,372 adult psychiatric outpatients using 2,438 psychotropic drugs and was designed to assess outpatients' beliefs about their prescribed medication. Patients completed sociodemographic, clinical questionnaires, and the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire Specific Scale and registered scores ranging from 1 to 5 on each of two subscales: concern and necessity. A "necessity-concern differential" was obtained by calculating the difference (range -4 to +4). RESULTS: The global score, including all drugs in the total sample, had a mean necessity score of 3.50 ± 0.95, a mean concern score of 2.97 ± 0.99, and a mean differential score of 0.54 ± 1.42. The concern and necessity mean scores varied significantly across these three culturally Hispanic countries, probably across drug classes, and were associated with treatment duration. On the other hand, age and education played a very limited role. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the diverse effects of culture and society on these attitudes is highly relevant for the development of responsive mental health services in multicultural societies.

Medicinal Plant Diversity and Inter-Cultural Interactions between Indigenous Guarani, Criollos and Polish Migrants in the Subtropics of Argentina.

Numerous studies highlight the importance of phytotherapy for indigenous and non-indigenous people in different parts of the world. In this work we analyze the richness (number of species), diversity (plant identity and the number of illnesses for which it is used) and similarity of plant species and illnesses treated with them, in order to contribute new data and insight into the importance of plant medicines to the local medical systems of people living in Misiones province, in the subtropics of Argentina. Three sympatric groups were compared: Guarani Indians, Criollos (mestizos) and Polish migrants. Quantitative scrutiny was focused on both primary and secondary sources. The similarity and diversity of medicinal plants and uses between groups was calculated by applying the Sørensen quantitative coefficient and the Shannon-Wiener index, respectively. In order to identify the characteristic plant species used by each group, the Cultural Importance and Prevalence Value (CIPV) was calculated based on the species Indicator Value (IndVal), which combines a species relative abundance with its relative frequency of occurrence in the various groups, and modified according to the type of the analyzed data. The important finding is a great variation in the number of species used by the study groups. Altogether, 509 botanical species were registered: Guarani (397), Criollos (243) and Polish migrants (137). For all groups, the use of native medicinal plants prevailed. The Guarani appear to be the local experts in use of medicinal plants. There is the significant difference in the number of treated illnesses by each taxon among three groups. Criollos and Polish migrants exhibit the greatest similarity in illnesses treated with medicinal plants. These groups share a corpus of knowledge related to illness nosology, and have a symptomatic approach to illness treatment. The Guarani have an etiological approach to illness diagnosis and healing, which may be viewed as a barrier to the exchange of knowledge about home medicine with other ethnic groups of Misiones.

[The foundational myth of Argentinian homeopathy. The journal "Homeopatía," Buenos Aires (1933-1940)]. / El mito fundacional de la homeopatía Argentina. La revista "Homeopatía," Buenos Aires (1933-1940).

The present article analyzes the historical-identitary construction in the older and most important institution of Homeopathy in Argentina. Two analytical axes are constructed: on the one hand, the construction of a foundational myth that outlines a genealogical thread between the "divinities" of the medicine, and on the other hand, the mitification of Hahnemann, founding father of the discipline. Using both axes we explain how the discourses of the journal were creating a symbolic support for the weak conjuncture in which they tried to be consolidated legally as an institution.

Morfología dental en una muestra de cráneos humanos de Pampa Grande, Argentina / Dental morphology in a sample of human skulls from Pampa Grande, Argentina

Se ha estudiado la prevalencia de 25 rasgos dentales en un grupo de cráneos adultos de aborígenes argentinos provenientes de la provincia de Salta, particularmente de la localidad llamada Pampa Grande. Se han analizando las arcadas superiores e inferiores de los mismos y la totalidad de las piezas dentales, excepto los terceros molares. El estudio se realizó sobre la dentición permanente de 66 cráneos adultos - maduros. Se establecieron las frecuencias absolutas y relativas de los rasgos estudiados.

Prevalence of 25 dental non-metric traits has been observed in a sample of 66 adult human skulls from Pampa Grande, Provincia de Salta, Argentina. All teeth from upper and lower arcades were analyzed, except the third molars. Frequency of traits observed was established.

Stable isotope and DNA evidence for ritual sequences in Inca child sacrifice.

Four recently discovered frozen child mummies from two of the highest peaks in the south central Andes now yield tantalizing evidence of the preparatory stages leading to Inca ritual killing as represented by the unique capacocha rite. Our interdisciplinary study examined hair from the mummies to obtain detailed genetic and diachronic isotopic information. This approach has allowed us to reconstruct aspects of individual identity and diet, make inferences concerning social background, and gain insight on the hitherto unknown processes by which victims were selected, elevated in social status, prepared for a high-altitude pilgrimage, and killed. Such direct information amplifies, yet also partly contrasts with, Spanish historical accounts.

From "shrinks" to "urban shamans": Argentine immigrants' therapeutic eclecticism in New York City.

This article examines Argentine immigrants' reliance on informal networks of care that enable their access to a variety of health providers in New York City (NYC). These providers range from health brokers (doctors known on a personal basis) to urban shamans, including folk healers and fortunetellers of various disciplines. A conceptual framework, based on analysis of social capital categories, is proposed for the examination of immigrants' access to valuable health resources, which are based on relationships of reciprocity and trust among parties. Results revealed immigrants' diverse patterns of health-seeking practices, most importantly their reliance on health brokers, epitomized by Argentine and Latino doctors who provide informal health assistance on the basis of sharing immigrants' social fields and ethnic interests. While mental health providers constitute a health resource shared by Argentines' social webs, urban shamans represent a trigger for the activation of women's emotional support webs. Contrary to the familiar assumption that dense and homogenous networks are more beneficial to their members, this article underscores the advantages of heterogeneous and fluid social webs that connect immigrants to a variety of resources, including referrals to diverse health practitioners.

[Nonconventional therapies in cancer]. / Medicinas no convencionales en cáncer.

This paper describes the therapeutic complementation carried out by cancer patients, assisted at 4 hospitals of Buenos Aires City. The authors propose to classify non conventional medicines, taking into account the sociocultural and historical context of Argentina. These categories discriminate among complementary/alternative medicines (CAM), self-treatment, traditional medicines (TM), and religious healing. The unit of analyses was a sample of 200 patients. The information was collected in semi-structured and open interviews. Results show that 90% of patients consult other medicines, at least once. CAM: 72%, self-treatment: 97%, TM: 22%, religious healing 42%. Fourty four percent of patients with progressive tumor and long duration sickness consulted two or more medicines, while only 20% of patients with primary and located cancer consulted two or more medicines. The familiarization with traditional medicines is associated to the preference for traditional healers; it increases from 22 to 55% of the immigrants and patients from inside Argentina and neighboring countries. Taking into account religious identity, it was noted that pentecostals and evangelists without exception consulted their own therapeutic rituals and rejected traditional medicine. Among catholics, 75% prefer their own religious offering and 25% other religious practices, and do not reject traditional medicines because of religious factors. There were no differences in gender or age.

La biotipología en el pronatalismo argentino (1930-1983) / No disponible

El objetivo central del presente trabajo consiste en revisar las propuestas pronatalistas argentinas del período 1930-1983 y evaluar las influencias que recibieran de la Biotipología de Nicola Pende. Esta disciplina, derivada de la Eugenesia de Francis Galton y funcional a regímenes autoritarios, tuvo gran aceptación en la ortodoxia eugénica de la Italia de Mussolini, la España de Franco y la Argentina de aquellos años. En torno a ella se articuló un discurso demográfico de claro sesgo tomista en el cual el fomento de la "natalidad seleccionada" fue, como veremos, uno de sus aspectos más destacados

The goal of this paper consists in the revision of argentinean pronatalist ideas of the period 190-1983 and so doing, in the evaluating the influences that they received from Nicola Pende´s Biotypology. This subject, derived from Francis Galton´s Eugenics, was usefull to autoritarian systems so it was very well accepted for the eugenic orthodoxic of Mussolini´s Italy, Franco´s Spain and the Argentina of those years. Around it, politics and demographers articulated a thomist speech with prominent emphasis in the promotion of a "selected natality"

Medicinas no convencionales en cáncer / Nonconventional therapies in cancer

This paper describes the therapeutic complementation carried out by cancer patients, assisted at 4 hospitals of Buenos Aires City. The authors propose to classify non conventional medicines, taking into account the sociocultural and historical context of Argentina. These categories discriminate among complementary/alternative medicines (CAM), self-treatment, traditional medicines (TM), and religious healing. The unit of analyses was a sample of 200 patients. The information was collected in semi-structured and open interviews. Results show that 90% of patients consult other medicines, at least once. CAM: 72%, self-treatment: 97%, TM: 22%, religious healing 42%. Fourty four percent of patients with progressive tumor and long duration sickness consulted two or more medicines, while only 20% of patients with primary and located cancer consulted two or more medicines. The familiarization with traditional medicines is associated to the preference for traditional healers; it increases from 22 to 55% of the immigrants and patients from inside Argentina and neighboring countries. Taking into account religious identity, it was noted that pentecostals and evangelists without exception consulted their own therapeutic rituals and rejected traditional medicine. Among catholics, 75% prefer their own religious offering and 25% other religious practices, and do not reject traditional medicines because of religious factors. There were no differences in gender or age.

Se describen las combinaciones de medicinas no convencionales utilizadas por pacientes con cánceratendidos en 4 hospitales de la ciudad de Buenos Aires. Se proponen para la clasificación de estas medicinas 4 categorías conceptuales que respetan los contextos culturales de Argentina. Se discrimina entre medicinas alternativas/complementarias, autotratamiento, medicinas tradicionales y terapias religiosas. Se tomó una muestra de 200 pacientes. La información fue recabada a través de un cuestionario semi-estructuradoy entrevistas abiertas, extensas y recurrentes. Los resultados indican que el 90% consultó otra medicinapor lo menos una vez. Medicinas alternativas/complementarias: 72%, autotratamiento: 97%, medicinas tradicionales: 22% y terapias religiosas: 42%. El 44% de los pacientes con tumores en progresión y metástasis consultó 2 o más medicinas en tanto los que presentaban cánceres primarios y localizados lo hicieron en el20%. La familiarización con las medicinas tradicionales se asocia a su preferencia, la que subió del 22% al55% considerando como subgrupo a los inmigrantes y derivados del interior y de países limítrofes. Teniendo en cuenta la identidad religiosa se advirtió que pentecostales y evangélicos, sin excepción, optan por los ritualesterapéuticos de sus propias confesiones y rechazan la medicina tradicional, los católicos en un 75% prefirieronlas terapias de su confesión y un 25% otras ofertas. No hubo diferencias por sexo y edad.

Medicinas no convencionales en cáncer / Nonconventional therapies in cancer

This paper describes the therapeutic complementation carried out by cancer patients, assisted at 4 hospitals of Buenos Aires City. The authors propose to classify non conventional medicines, taking into account the sociocultural and historical context of Argentina. These categories discriminate among complementary/alternative medicines (CAM), self-treatment, traditional medicines (TM), and religious healing. The unit of analyses was a sample of 200 patients. The information was collected in semi-structured and open interviews. Results show that 90% of patients consult other medicines, at least once. CAM: 72%, self-treatment: 97%, TM: 22%, religious healing 42%. Fourty four percent of patients with progressive tumor and long duration sickness consulted two or more medicines, while only 20% of patients with primary and located cancer consulted two or more medicines. The familiarization with traditional medicines is associated to the preference for traditional healers; it increases from 22 to 55% of the immigrants and patients from inside Argentina and neighboring countries. Taking into account religious identity, it was noted that pentecostals and evangelists without exception consulted their own therapeutic rituals and rejected traditional medicine. Among catholics, 75% prefer their own religious offering and 25% other religious practices, and do not reject traditional medicines because of religious factors. There were no differences in gender or age.(AU)

Se describen las combinaciones de medicinas no convencionales utilizadas por pacientes con cánceratendidos en 4 hospitales de la ciudad de Buenos Aires. Se proponen para la clasificación de estas medicinas 4 categorías conceptuales que respetan los contextos culturales de Argentina. Se discrimina entre medicinas alternativas/complementarias, autotratamiento, medicinas tradicionales y terapias religiosas. Se tomó una muestra de 200 pacientes. La información fue recabada a través de un cuestionario semi-estructuradoy entrevistas abiertas, extensas y recurrentes. Los resultados indican que el 90% consultó otra medicinapor lo menos una vez. Medicinas alternativas/complementarias: 72%, autotratamiento: 97%, medicinas tradicionales: 22% y terapias religiosas: 42%. El 44% de los pacientes con tumores en progresión y metástasis consultó 2 o más medicinas en tanto los que presentaban cánceres primarios y localizados lo hicieron en el20%. La familiarización con las medicinas tradicionales se asocia a su preferencia, la que subió del 22% al55% considerando como subgrupo a los inmigrantes y derivados del interior y de países limítrofes. Teniendo en cuenta la identidad religiosa se advirtió que pentecostales y evangélicos, sin excepción, optan por los ritualesterapéuticos de sus propias confesiones y rechazan la medicina tradicional, los católicos en un 75% prefirieronlas terapias de su confesión y un 25% otras ofertas. No hubo diferencias por sexo y edad.(AU)

La antorcha de cupido: eugenesia, biotipologia y eugamia en Argentina, 1930-1970

El objetivo de este trabajo es demostrar, valiéndonos del análisis de la regulación normativa de la institución matrimonial, la fuerte carga de coercitividad que caracterizó a la Eugenesia Argentina y a su reformulación "derechizada", hacia los años 30, mediante la adscripción de intelectuales fuertemente influyentes en la política local a la Biotipología, "ciencia" sistematizada por el médico fascista italiano Nicola Pende y adoptada también en la España franquista por el psiquiatra militar Antonio Vallejo Nágera. Coercitividad que siendo legalmente instrumentada para legitimar políticas de clasificación, jerarquización y exclusión es historiográficamente relativizada, al atribuirse a la influencia católica una función moderadora de las formulaciones eugénicas autoritarias, normalmente identificadas bajo el rótulo de "anglosajonas". Veremos, por el contrario, que la "Eugenesia latina" no representó una modalidad suavizada de las políticas de "mejora de la raza" orquestadas desde comienzos del siglo XX en Estados Unidos y luego en la Alemania nazi, sino que constituyó el fundamento teórico de un análogo delirio pseudocientífico encabezado por Mussolini y rápidamente institucionalizado en un país de Sudamérica (AU)