Waning waves of mood: The declining trend of hospitalized patients with affective disorders in Germany.

INTRODUCTION: Affective disorders profoundly affect individuals' emotional well-being and quality of life. This study investigates the epidemiology of affective disorders in Germany from 2011 to 2021, focusing on incidence rates, age- and sex-standardized rates, and developmental trends. METHODS: Using nationwide data of ICD-10 diagnosis codes from 2011 to 2021, this cross-sectional study analyzed inpatient cases of affective disorders in individuals aged 20 years or older. Age- and sex-standardized incidence rates were calculated based on the population size of each birth cohort in the 16 German federal states. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for 2011 to 2021 and 2019 to 2021 were compared with a two-sample z-test. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2021, F30 (manic episode) showed a decline of 42.8 % to an incidence of 4.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, even though not statistically significant (p = 0.322). F31 (bipolar affective disorder) remained relatively stable with a reduction of 15.3 % to an incidence of 13.6 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2021 (p = 0.653). F32 (depressive episode) decreased statistically significant by 25.7 % to an incidence of 64.1 per 100,000 inhabitants (p = 0.072). F33 (recurrent depressive disorder) slightly increased by 18.3 % to an incidence of 94.6 per 100,000 inhabitants (p = 0.267). No statistically significant differences were found when comparing the COVID-19 pandemic year 2021 to 2019 incidences (p ≥ 0.529). CONCLUSION: The study provides valuable insights into the changing landscape of affective disorders in Germany over the past decade. The observed decline in incidence rates underscores the importance of continued efforts to promote mental health awareness and access to care.

Explainable artificial intelligence to predict and identify prostate cancer tissue by gene expression.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer in men worldwide. Traditional screening strategies such as serum PSA levels, which are not necessarily cancer-specific, or digital rectal exams, which are often inconclusive, are still the screening methods used for the disease. Some studies have focused on identifying biomarkers of the disease but none have been reported for diagnosis in routine clinical practice and few studies have provided tools to assist the pathologist in the decision-making process when analyzing prostate tissue. Therefore, a classifier is proposed to predict the occurrence of PCa that provides physicians with accurate predictions and understandable explanations. METHODS: A selection of 47 genes was made based on differential expression between PCa and normal tissue, GO gene ontology as well as the literature to be used as input predictors for different machine learning methods based on eXplainable Artificial Intelligence. These methods were trained using different class-balancing strategies to build accurate classifiers using gene expression data from 550 samples from 'The Cancer Genome Atlas'. Our model was validated in four external cohorts with different ancestries, totaling 463 samples. In addition, a set of SHapley Additive exPlanations was provided to help clinicians understand the underlying reasons for each decision. RESULTS: An in-depth analysis showed that the Random Forest algorithm combined with majority class downsampling was the best performing approach with robust statistical significance. Our method achieved an average sensitivity and specificity of 0.90 and 0.8 with an AUC of 0.84 across all databases. The relevance of DLX1, MYL9 and FGFR genes for PCa screening was demonstrated in addition to the important role of novel genes such as CAV2 and MYLK. CONCLUSIONS: This model has shown good performance in 4 independent external cohorts of different ancestries and the explanations provided are consistent with each other and with the literature, opening a horizon for its application in clinical practice. In the near future, these genes, in combination with our model, could be applied to liquid biopsy to improve PCa screening.

Efectividad de la hipnosis en cantidad y calidad del sueño en pacientes con depresión post-COVID / Effectiveness of hypnotherapy on sleep quality and quantity in patients with post-COVID depression

Introducción: Se conocen diversos tratamientos para tratar y curar la depresión. Entre los más utilizados se encuentran la psicoterapia y la medicación. La hipnosis clínica utiliza un discurso basado en la sugestión y en los reflejos condicionados del sueño, para lograr la estabilidad en la desregulación del ciclo sueño / vigilia, lo cual es un factor esencial en el tratamiento de las personas deprimidas por la COVID-19. Objetivo: Comparar la evolución en la calidad y cantidad de sueño en pacientes con depresión post-COVID que fueron tratados con medicación e hipnosis. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio explicativo-comparativo, y un diseño cuasi-experimental. La muestra fue de 40 pacientes que fueron ingresados en el Hospital Universitario Clínico Quirúrgico «Cmdte. Manuel Fajardo Rivero», de Santa Clara, entre enero y marzo de 2021, con COVID-19. En un grupo de pacientes se empleó el inventario de depresión de Beck y un cuestionario para evaluar la cantidad y calidad del sueño antes y después de la intervención con medicación; en el otro grupo se empleó la hipnosis. Se utilizó la estadística descriptiva. Resultados: En ambos grupos la terapia empleada fue efectiva, redujo los niveles de depresión y eliminó las alteraciones del sueño. Conclusiones: Ambas formas de tratamiento se pueden emplear para tratar la depresión y los desórdenes propios del sueño. El método sugestivo de despertar de sueño hipnótico a sueño natural fue tan efectivo como los psicofármacos empleados.

Introduction: various treatments are known to treat and cure depression. Psychotherapy and medication are among the most used. Clinical hypnosis uses a discourse based on suggestions and conditioned sleep reflexes to achieve stability in sleep-wake cycle dysregulation, which is an essential factor in the treatment of people depressed by COVID-19. Objective: to compare the evolution in sleep quality and quantity in patients with post-COVID depression who were treated with medication and hypnotherapy. Methods: an explanatory comparative study with a quasi-experimental design was carried out. The sample consisted of 40 patients who were admitted due to COVID-19 at "Cmdte. Manuel Fajardo Rivero" Clinical and Surgical University Hospital from Santa Clara between January and March 2021. Beck Depression Inventory and a questionnaire were used in a group of patients to assess the sleep quality and quantity before and after the intervention with medication; hypnosis was used in the other group. Descriptive statistics was also used. Results: the used therapy was effective in both groups, reduced levels of depression and eliminated sleep disturbances. Conclusions: both forms of treatment can be used to treat depression and sleep disorders. The suggestive method of awakening from hypnotic sleep to natural sleep was as effective as the psychoactive drugs used.

Efectividad de la hipnoterapia en escolares con trastornos de ansiedad fóbica / Effectiveness of hypnotherapy in school children with disorders of phobic anxiety: en

Introducción: La fobia es un trastorno de ansiedad caracterizado por temor o miedo intenso e irracional hacia algo. Presenta una tasa de incidencia anual de 8 % y la hipnosis es uno de los tratamientos más empleados en quienes la padecen. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad del modelo hipnoterapéutico aplicado a pacientes en edad escolar con trastornos de ansiedad fóbica. Métodos: Se realizó una intervención hipnoterapéutica cuasiexperimental en los 30 pacientes con fobia escolar que acudieron a la consulta multidisciplinaria de hipnosis en la Clínica de Hipnosis Terapéutica de Santiago de Cuba, desde octubre de 2016 hasta igual mes de 2018. A tal efecto, la intervención constó de 3 etapas y se aplicó la prueba de Mc-Nemar para dos muestras relacionadas, así como el estadígrafo de la Χ2. Resultados: En la serie predominaron los pacientes del sexo masculino (53,3 %), principalmente entre 8 y 9 años de edad (37,5 %), así como las fobias específicas. Luego de aplicada la hipnosis, se obtuvo una respuesta psicológica favorable en todos los pacientes. Conclusiones: El modelo hipnoterapéutico aplicado resultó ser efectivo, pues se logró una evolución clínica favorable y una buena respuesta al tratamiento.

Introduction: Phobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by fear or intense and irrational fear toward something. It presents an annual rate of incidence of 8 % and hypnosis is one of the most used treatments in those who suffer from this disorder. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the hypnotherapeutic pattern applied to patients in school age with phobic anxiety disorders. Methods: A quasi-experiment hypnotherapeutic intervention was carried out in the 30 patients with school phobia that attended the hypnosis multidisciplinary service at the Therapeutic Hypnosis Clinic in Santiago de Cuba, from October, 2016 to the same month in 2018. To such an effect, the intervention consisted of 3 stages and the Mc-Nemar test was applied for 2 related samples, as well as the chi-square test. Results: In the series there was a prevalence of the male sex patients (53.3 %), mainly between 8 and 9 years (37.5 %), as well as the specific phobias. After having applied the hypnosis, a favorable psychological response was obtained in all the patients. Conclusions: The hypnotherapeutic pattern applied was effective, because a favorable clinical course and a good treatment response were achieved.

Omics Data Preprocessing for Machine Learning: A Case Study in Childhood Obesity.

The use of machine learning techniques for the construction of predictive models of disease outcomes (based on omics and other types of molecular data) has gained enormous relevance in the last few years in the biomedical field. Nonetheless, the virtuosity of omics studies and machine learning tools are subject to the proper application of algorithms as well as the appropriate pre-processing and management of input omics and molecular data. Currently, many of the available approaches that use machine learning on omics data for predictive purposes make mistakes in several of the following key steps: experimental design, feature selection, data pre-processing, and algorithm selection. For this reason, we propose the current work as a guideline on how to confront the main challenges inherent to multi-omics human data. As such, a series of best practices and recommendations are also presented for each of the steps defined. In particular, the main particularities of each omics data layer, the most suitable preprocessing approaches for each source, and a compilation of best practices and tips for the study of disease development prediction using machine learning are described. Using examples of real data, we show how to address the key problems mentioned in multi-omics research (e.g., biological heterogeneity, technical noise, high dimensionality, presence of missing values, and class imbalance). Finally, we define the proposals for model improvement based on the results found, which serve as the bases for future work.

Scipion3: A workflow engine for cryo-electron microscopy image processing and structural biology.

Image-processing pipelines require the design of complex workflows combining many different steps that bring the raw acquired data to a final result with biological meaning. In the image-processing domain of cryo-electron microscopy single-particle analysis (cryo-EM SPA), hundreds of steps must be performed to obtain the three-dimensional structure of a biological macromolecule by integrating data spread over thousands of micrographs containing millions of copies of allegedly the same macromolecule. The execution of such complicated workflows demands a specific tool to keep track of all these steps performed. Additionally, due to the extremely low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the estimation of any image parameter is heavily affected by noise resulting in a significant fraction of incorrect estimates. Although low SNR and processing millions of images by hundreds of sequential steps requiring substantial computational resources are specific to cryo-EM, these characteristics may be shared by other biological imaging domains. Here, we present Scipion, a Python generic open-source workflow engine specifically adapted for image processing. Its main characteristics are: (a) interoperability, (b) smart object model, (c) gluing operations, (d) comparison operations, (e) wide set of domain-specific operations, (f) execution in streaming, (g) smooth integration in high-performance computing environments, (h) execution with and without graphical capabilities, (i) flexible visualization, (j) user authentication and private access to private data, (k) scripting capabilities, (l) high performance, (m) traceability, (n) reproducibility, (o) self-reporting, (p) reusability, (q) extensibility, (r) software updates, and (s) non-restrictive software licensing.

Validación de un algoritmo hipnoterapéutico para niños con enuresis nocturna monosintomática / Validation of a hypnotherapeutic algorithm for children with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis i: en

Introducción: La enuresis nocturna monosintomática es la micción involuntaria intermitente durante la noche. Esta se presenta en 15 % de los niños de 5 años, en 5 % de los de 10 años y 12 % de los adultos jóvenes sin defectos congénitos o adquiridos. Objetivo: Validar un algoritmo hipnoterapéutico diseñado para pacientes con enuresis nocturna. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio complejo en la Clínica de Hipnosis Terapéutica de la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas en Santiago de Cuba, de febrero del 2021 a julio del 2022, el cual estuvo estructurado en dos etapas metodológicas; en la primera se diseñó el algoritmo terapéutico y en la segunda se validó el contenido de este. A tal efecto, se aplicaron un cuestionario del tipo Likert, el índice de validez de contenido, el coeficiente de concordancia de Kendall, así como el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach y el análisis de conglomerados. Resultados: La validación del contenido realizada por los expertos mostró una excelente consistencia interna, con un coeficiente alfa de Cronbach de 0,9221, que se interpreta como una altísima fiabilidad del instrumento. Asimismo, el índice de validez del contenido de los ítems fue superior a 0,89, lo que también denotó una validez elevada. Conclusiones: La validación del algoritmo hipnoterapéutico diseñado y sometido al criterio de expertos demostró ser adecuado, con elevada coherencia y concordancia evaluativas.

Introduction: Monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis is the involuntary urine loss during sleep which affects 15 % of 5-years-old children, 5 % of 10-years-olds and 12 % of young teens without congenital or acquired defects. Objective: To validate a hypnotherapeutic algorithm designed for patients with nocturnal enuresis. Methods: A complex study was carried out at the Therapeutic Hypnosis Clinic of the University of Medical Sciences in Santiago de Cuba, from February 2021 to July 2022. It was structured in two methodological stages; in the first one the therapeutic algorithm was designed and in the second one the content of this algorithm was validated. For this purpose, a Likert scale questions, the content validity index, Kendall's coefficient of concordance, as well as Cronbach's alpha and cluster analysis were applied. Results: The content validation executed by the experts showed excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.9221, which meant a very high reliability of the instrument. Likewise, the content validity index of the items was higher than 0.89 that also indicated high validity. Conclusions: The validation of the hypnotherapeutic algorithm designed and subjected to experts' criteria proved to be adequate, with high evaluative coherence and concordance.

Hipnoterapia para el logro de adecuados indicadores del parto en gestantes adolescentes con síntomas psicológicos derivados de la COVID-19 / Hypnotherapy for the achievement of appropriate indicators of the childbirth in pregnant adolescents with psychological symptoms derived from the COVID-19

Introducción: La adolescencia comprende entre los 10 y 19 años de edad, periodo donde el embarazo tiene mayor riesgo de complicaciones en la madre y el neonato. La COVID-19 incrementa la posibilidad de aparición de complicaciones psicológicas, que de no ser atendidas, inciden negativamente en el embarazo y el parto. En el presente estudio las pacientes fueron tratadas mediante hipnoterapia. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad del modelo hipnoterapéutico para el logro de adecuados indicadores del parto en adolescentes gestantes con síntomas psicológicos derivados de la COVID-19. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de intervención hipnoterapéutica en 9 gestantes adolescentes con síntomas psicológicos derivados de la COVID - 19, ingresadas en el Hospital Nutricional Materno Este de Santiago de Cuba, desde abril hasta junio del 2020. Las pacientes tuvieron seguimiento hasta después del parto. Resultados: Se halló que 7 embarazadas (77,8 %) tuvieron parto eutócico y percibieron el dolor de este como mediano; en 66,7 % no hubo necesidad de usar analgésicos y 8 de ellas (88,9 %) no presentaron complicaciones. Además, todos los neonatos tuvieron un apgar normal. Conclusiones: El modelo hipnoterapéutico para el tratamiento de las gestantes adolescentes con síntomas psicológicos derivados de la COVID-19 logró mejorar indicadores del parto y otros parámetros asociados a este.

Introduction: The adolescence covers between the 10 and 19 years, period in which the pregnancy has higher risk of complications in the mother and the newborn. The COVID-19 increases the possibility of emergence of psychological complications that impact negatively in pregnancy and childbirth if they are not assisted. In this study the patients were treated by means of hypnotherapy. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the hipnotherapeutic pattern for the achievement of appropriate indicators of childbirth in pregnant adolescents with psychological symptoms derived from the COVID-19. Methods: A study of hipnoterapeutic intervention was carried out in 9 pregnant adolescents with psychological symptoms derived from the COVID - 19, admitted to the Eastern Maternal Nutritional Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, from April to June, 2020. The patients had follow up until after the childbirth. Results: It was found that 7 pregnant women (77.8 %) had eutocic childbirth and perceived the pain as medium; in 66.7 % there was not necessity to use analgesic and 8 of them (88.9 %) didn't present complications. Also, all the newborns had a normal apgar. Conclusions: The hipnotherapeutic pattern for the treatment of pregnant adolescents with psychological symptoms derived from the COVID-19 was able to improve indicators of childbirth and other parameters associated with it.

Functional Enrichment Analysis of Regulatory Elements.

Statistical methods for enrichment analysis are important tools to extract biological information from omics experiments. Although these methods have been widely used for the analysis of gene and protein lists, the development of high-throughput technologies for regulatory elements demands dedicated statistical and bioinformatics tools. Here, we present a set of enrichment analysis methods for regulatory elements, including CpG sites, miRNAs, and transcription factors. Statistical significance is determined via a power weighting function for target genes and tested by the Wallenius noncentral hypergeometric distribution model to avoid selection bias. These new methodologies have been applied to the analysis of a set of miRNAs associated with arrhythmia, showing the potential of this tool to extract biological information from a list of regulatory elements. These new methods are available in GeneCodis 4, a web tool able to perform singular and modular enrichment analysis that allows the integration of heterogeneous information.

Effectiveness of hypnotherapeutic and pharmacological treatment in primary monosymptomatic enuresis / Efectividad del tratamiento hipnoterapéutico y farmacológico en la enuresis primaria monosintomática

Abstract: Background: In primary monosymptomatic enuresis, it is not clear what dynamic changes occur in the efficacy of hypnotherapeutic versus pharmacological treatment plan. Objective: Determine the changes over time in the effectiveness of hypnotherapy and a pharmacological treatment plan in primary monosymptomatic enuresis. Method: A prospective, longitudinal and analytical study (time series) was performed on a universe of 119 patients between 7 and 16 years old, with primary monosymptomatic enuresis. 40 patients treated with imipramine and 79 patients with 1 session/1 hour /week of hypnotherapy were evaluated on the frequency of temporal changes of enuretic episodes during 14 weeks of treatments at the Hypnosis Clinic. Results: A logarithmic scale of the distributions of temporal changes in the frequencies of enuretic episodes in hypnotherapeutic and pharmacological treatments is presented, with an enuretic plateau from week 3 to week 6 in hypnotherapy. Conclusions: The hypnotherapeutic treatment was more favorable, as it had an early and efficient response compared to treatment with imipramine.

Resumen: Antecedentes: En la enuresis monosintomática primaria, no está claro qué cambios dinámicos ocurren en la eficacia del plan de tratamiento hipnoterapéutico versus farmacológico. Objetivo: Determinar los cambios dinámicos a lo largo del tiempo en la efectividad de la hipnoterapia y un plan de tratamiento farmacológico en la enuresis infantil no orgánica. Método: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, longitudinal y analítico (serie temporal) en un universo de 119 pacientes entre 7 y 16 años, con enuresis nocturna no orgánica. 40 pacientes tratados con imipramina y 79 pacientes con 1 sesión / 1 hora / semana de hipnoterapia fueron evaluados en la frecuencia de cambios temporales de episodios enuréticos durante 14 semanas de tratamientos en la Clínica de Hipnosis. Resultados: Se presenta un modelo logarítmico de las distribuciones de cambios temporales en las frecuencias de episodios enuréticos en tratamientos hipnoterapéuticos y farmacológicos, con una meseta enurética desde la semana 3 a la semana 6 en hipnoterapia. Conclusiones: El tratamiento hipnoterapéutico fue más favorable, ya que tuvo una respuesta temprana y eficaz en comparación con el tratamiento con imipramina.

Efectividad de la hipnoterapia en pacientes deprimidos / Effectiveness of hypnotherapy in depressed patients

RESUMEN Introducción: la depresión es uno de los problemas de salud que más afecta a los seres humanos a nivel mundial. En Cuba, un elevado número de personas padece este flagelo, sin distinción de razas, sexos u otras categorías. Objetivo: evaluar la efectividad de la hipnosis como modalidad terapéutica en pacientes deprimidos. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio explicativo de tipo experimental de comparación de grupo pre-post prueba en 30 pacientes con trastornos depresivos; 15 de ellos se atendieron con hipnoterapia (grupo estudio) y otros 15 mediante terapia racional emotiva conductual (grupo control). Por la importancia para enriquecer la investigación, se definió como variable independiente el tratamiento empleado según el grupo, y como variables dependientes la respuesta psicológica antidepresiva y ansiolítica. Los datos se procesaron cuantitativa y cualitativamente. Se empleó la prueba de las probabilidades exactas de Fisher y la t de Student para validar la significación del cambio. Resultados: en términos de evolución clínica, la hipnoterapia fue efectiva, ya que el 93,3 % de los pacientes mejoraron significativamente en comparación con los resultados obtenidos con la terapia conductual racional emotiva, dados en un 73,33 %. Conclusión: la hipnoterapia es tan efectiva como la terapia racional emotiva conductual, y si bien no hubo diferencias significativas por los resultados del estadígrafo matemático empleado, sí las hubo desde el punto de vista práctico y clínico, pues evolucionaron más rápido los pacientes del grupo estudio que los del grupo control (AU).

ABSTRACT Introduction: depression is one of the health problems more affecting the human being around the world. A high number of persons suffers this scourge, without distinction of race, sex or any other category. Objective: to assess hypnosis effectiveness as a therapeutic modality in depressed patients. Materials and methods: an experimental-kind explanatory study was carried out comparing a group of 30 patients with depressive disorders before and after test; 15 of them were treated with hypnotherapy (study group) and 15 with rational emotive behavioral therapy (control group). For the importance of enriching the research the treatment used according to each group was defined as independent variable and the anxiolytic and anti-depressive psychological answer. Data were quantitative and qualitatively processed. Fisher's exact test and T student test were used to validate the change significance. Results: in terms of clinical evolution, hypnotherapy was effective, since 93.3% of patients significantly improved in comparison to the results achieved with the rational emotive behavioral therapy, reaching 73.33%. Conclusions: hypnotherapy is as effective as rational emotive behavioral therapy, and although there were not significant differences due to the results of the used mathematical statistic, there they were from the practical and clinical point of view, because the patients from the study group improved faster than the ones in the control group AU).

Hipnoterapia en gestantes adolescentes con síntomas psíquicos a causa de la pandemia de la COVID-19 / Hypnotherapy in pregnant adolescents with psychic symptoms due to the pandemic of COVID-19

Introducción: La COVID-19 ha tenido un impacto psicológico negativo en gran parte de la población mundial, lo que incluye a las gestantes adolescentes como grupo vulnerable. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad del modelo hipnoterapéutico aplicado a embarazadas adolescentes. Métodos: Se realizó una intervención hipnoterapéutica cuasiexperimental, del tipo antes-después, en las 15 gestantes adolescentes con síntomas psicológicos ocasionados por el impacto de la pandemia de la COVID-19, quienes se encontraban ingresadas en el Hogar Materno Nutricional Este de Santiago de Cuba, de abril a junio de 2020. Para ello el mismo grupo de estudio resultó ser su control. Resultados: De las 15 pacientes, 5 correspondían al grupo etario de 10 a 14 años y el resto, al grupo de 15 a 19 años. En cuanto a los resultados de la escala de autoevaluación, antes del tratamiento 11 grávidas se encontraban en niveles altos de ansiedad, para 73,3 %, y luego de recibir la hipnosis dichos niveles bajaron en 13 de ellas, para 86,7 %. Conclusiones: La hipnoterapia en gestantes con síntomas psicológicos a causa de la COVID-19 resultó ser efectiva, pues posibilitó una mejoría clínica en estas.

Introduction: The COVID-19 has had a negative psychological impact in a large part of the world population, including pregnant adolescents as vulnerable group. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the hypnotherapeutic pattern applied to pregnant adolescents. Methods: An hypnotherapeutic quasi-experimental intervention, was carried out in the 15 pregnant adolescents with psychological symptoms caused by the impact of the pandemic of COVID-19 who were admitted in the Eastern Nutritional Maternal Home in Santiago de Cuba, from April to June, 2020. The study group was its own control group. Results: Of the 15 patients, 5 corresponded to the 10-14 age group and the rest of the patients, to the 15-19 age group. As for the results of the self-evaluation scale, before the treatment 11 pregnant women had high levels of anxiety, for a 73.3 %, and after receiving the hipnosis, these levels lowered in 13 of them, for a 86.7 %. Conclusions: The hypnotherapy in pregnant women with psychological symptoms due to the COVID-19 was effective, because it facilitated a clinical improvement in these women.

Intervención psicoterapéutica breve en estudiantes caribeños de Medicina con reacciones psicológicas por impacto ante la COVID-19 / Brief psychotherapeutic intervention in Caribbean Medicine students with psychological reactions due to impact of the COVID-19

Introducción: La propagación de la COVID-19 y su exponencial crecimiento como pandemia, abarcando a todas las regiones del mundo, ha sido, sin duda, un estresor social, psicológico y fisiológico sin precedentes. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de la psicoterapia breve en un grupo de estudiantes caribeños de Medicina. Métodos: Se efectuó un estudio de intervención psicoterapéutica, monocéntrico, en 16 estudiantes caribeños de la Facultad de Medicina No. 1 en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Santiago de Cuba, durante abril de 2020, los cuales presentaron diversas manifestaciones psicológicas y/o psicopatológicas debido al impacto ante la COVID-19. A cada uno se le aplicó la escala de autoevaluación de depresión de Zung y Conde y el IDARE para evaluar el estado de ansiedad antes y después del tratamiento; también se les realizó una entrevista semiestructurada para profundizar en el problema y determinar el funcionamiento emocional y las situaciones generadoras de esos estados. Resultados: El sexo predominante fue el femenino y el rango etario de mayor frecuencia el de 20-30 años. Luego de la intervención existió una reducción tácita de los niveles de ansiedad y los síntomas depresivos, y se obtuvo una evolución clínica favorable. Conclusiones: La intervención psicoterapéutica resultó ser efectiva, pues se actuó directamente sobre los aspectos relacionados con la enfermedad que infundían temor a los educandos, y con ello se logró una buena respuesta clínica.

Introduction: The propagation of the COVID-19 and its exponential growth as pandemic, extended to all the regions of the world, has been, undoubtedly, a social, psychological and physiologic stressor without precedents. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the brief psychotherapy in a group of Caribbean Medicine students. Methods: A monocentric study of psychotherapeutic intervention was carried out in 16 Caribbean students from the No. 1 Medicine Faculty in the University of Medical Sciences in Santiago de Cuba, during April, 2020, which presented diverse psychological and/or psychopathological signs due to the impact of COVID-19. The depression self-appraisal scale of Zung-Conde and IDARE was applied to all of them to evaluate the state of anxiety before and after the treatment; a semistructured interview was also carried out to deepen in the problem and to determine the emotional performance and the generating situations of those states. Results: The predominant sex was the female and the age range of more frequency was that of 20-30 years. After the intervention it existed a tacit reduction of the anxiety levels and the depressive symptoms, and there was a favorable clinical course. Conclusions: The psychotherapeutic intervention was effective, because it directly acted on the aspects related to the disease that instill fear to the students, and a good clinical answer was achieved.

Clima Familiar: una nueva mirada a sus dimensiones e interrelaciones / Family atmosphere: a fresh look at its dimensions and relationships

El clima familiar es muy importante, amplio y complejo, de modo que en una investigación no es posible referirse a todas sus dimensiones e interrelaciones; por tal razón, el presente estudio se destinó a delimitar las características de las emociones, inteligencia emocional, sentimientos y aspectos afectivos de la comunicación familiar, con vista a analizar dicha categoría, reflexionar acerca de su valor primordial y sentar las bases para realizar futuras acciones que permitan desarrollarlo. Aquí se fundamenta el criterio de que un buen clima familiar tiene relación con un bienestar subjetivo y una excelente forma de proteger la salud integral de la familia, teniendo en cuenta que esta última conforma un grupo maravilloso, imprescindible y universal(AU)

The family atmosphere is very important, wide and complex, in a way that in an investigation it is not possible to cover all its dimensions and relationships; for that reason, this study was used to define the characteristics of emotions, emotional intelligence, feelings and emotional aspects of the family communication, with a view to analyze this category, to reflect on their primary value and establish the basis for future actions that allow its development. Here it is supported the criteria that a good family atmosphere is related to subjective welfare and a great way to protect the overall health of the family, considering that this last way is a wonderful, essential and universal(EU)group

Synthesis, characterization and biocompatibility of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles capped with dextrin for in vivo and in vitro imaging application.

BACKGROUND: The safe use in biomedicine of semiconductor nanoparticles, also known as quantum dots (QDs), requires a detailed understanding of the biocompatibility and toxicity of QDs in human beings. The biological characteristics and physicochemical properties of QDs entail new challenges regarding the management of potential adverse health effects following exposure. At certain concentrations, the synthesis of semiconductor nanoparticles of CdS using dextrin as capping agent, at certain concentration, to reduce their toxicity and improves their biocompatibility. RESULTS: This study successfully synthesized and characterized biocompatible dextrin-coated cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdS-Dx/QDs). The results show that CdS-Dx/QDs are cytotoxic at high concentrations (>2 µg/mL) in HepG2 and HEK293 cells. At low concentrations (<1 µg/mL), CdS-Dx/QDs were not toxic to HepG2 or HeLa cells. CdS-Dx nanoparticles only induced cell death by apoptosis in HEK293 cells at 1 µg/mL concentrations. The in vitro results showed that the cells efficiently took up the CdS-Dx/QDs and this resulted in strong fluorescence. The subcellular localization of CdS-Dx/QDs were usually small and apparently unique in the cytoplasm in HeLa cells but, in the case of HEK293 cells it were more abundant and found in cytoplasm and the nucleus. Animals treated with 100 µg/kg of CdS-Dx/QDs and sacrificed at 3, 7 and 18 h showed a differential distribution in their organs. Intense fluorescence was detected in lung and kidney, with moderate fluorescence detected in liver, spleen and brain. The biocompatibility and toxicity of CdS-Dx/QDs in animals treated daily with 100 µg/kg for 1 week showed the highest level of fluorescence in kidney, liver and brain. Less fluorescence was detected in lung and spleen. There was also evident presence of fluorescence in testis. The histopathological and biochemical analyses showed that CdS-Dx/QDs were non-toxic for rodents. CONCLUSIONS: The in vitro and in vivo studies confirmed the effective cellular uptake and even distribution pattern of CdS-Dx/QDs in tissues. CdS-Dx/QDs were biocompatible with tissues from rodents. The CdS-Dx/QDs used in this study can be potentially used in bio-imaging applications.

A survey of intestinal parasites including associated risk factors in humans in Panama.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitic infections are among the most common infections worldwide, leading to illness with serious and long lasting implications in children and immunocompromised people. Transmission of intestinal parasites is more frequent in tropical and sub-tropical areas where sanitation is poor and socioeconomic conditions are deficient. Panama is a country where climate and social conditions could be reflected in a high number of people infected with intestinal parasites. The presence, prevalence, and distribution of intestinal parasites in this country have been approached to date only in very restricted areas and population groups, but the impact of intestinal parasite infections at the national level is unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey between 2008 and 2010 to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites across Panama. Overall, 14 municipalities in seven provinces of Panama were surveyed. The presence of eggs, cysts, and larvae was assessed by microscopy in 1123 human fecal samples using a concentration technique. A questionnaire to identify risk factors associated with the frequency of intestinal parasites in the study population was also prepared and performed. Overall, 47.4% of human samples presented parasites. Variables including community type, age group, occupation, co-presence of commensals and socioeconomic factors (use of shoes and type of sanitation) were significantly associated with intestinal parasites (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The preliminary data obtained in the current study, showing a high prevalence of fecal-oral transmitted parasites in Panama, place intestinal parasitism as a major health problem in this country. Specific interventions should be planned for the indigenous population, the group most afflicted by intestinal parasites.

Terapéutica holística en una paciente con gingivitis descamativa crónica / Holistic therapy in a patient with chronic desquamative gingivitis

Se describe el caso clínico de una paciente con gingivitis descamativa crónica, atendida en el Departamento de Periodoncia de la Clínica Estomatológica Provincial Docente Mártires del Moncada de Santiago de Cuba, en quien el tratamiento convencional no proporcionó resultados favorables, por lo cual se recurrió a la combinación de las terapias neural, acupuntural y periodontal y la aplicación de hipnosis, cuya combinación solucionó tan grave proceso inflamatorio, además de elevar la autoestima y la calidad de vida de la afectada(A)

The case report of a patient with chronic desquamative gingivitis, assisted in the Department of Periodontics of Martires del Moncada Teaching Provincial Stomatological Clinical in Santiago de Cuba is described, in whom the conventional treatment provided no favourable results, reason why it was decided to combine the neural, acupunctural and periodontal therapies and the hypnosis which combined could solved such a serious inflammatory process, besides raising the self-esteem and the life quality of the one affected patient(AU)

Terapéutica holística en una paciente con gingivitis descamativa crónica / Holistic therapy in a patient with chronic desquamative gingivitis

Se describe el caso clínico de una paciente con gingivitis descamativa crónica, atendida en el Departamento de Periodoncia de la Clínica Estomatológica Provincial Docente "Mártires del Moncada" de Santiago de Cuba, en quien el tratamiento convencional no proporcionó resultados favorables, por lo cual se recurrió a la combinación de las terapias neural, acupuntural y periodontal y la aplicación de hipnosis, cuya combinación solucionó tan grave proceso inflamatorio, además de elevar la autoestima y la calidad de vida de la afecta.

The case report of a patient with chronic desquamative gingivitis, assisted in the Department of Periodontics of "Martires del Moncada" Teaching Provincial Stomatological Clinical in Santiago de Cuba is described, in whom the conventional treatment provided no favourable results, reason why it was decided to combine the neural, acupunctural and periodontal therapies and the hypnosis which combined could solved such a serious inflammatory process, besides raising the self-esteem and the life quality of the one affected patient.

Desarrollo del clima familiar afectivo y su impacto en el bienestar subjetivo de la familia / Improvement of the affective family environment and its impact in the subjective welfare of the family

Se realizó un estudio experimental en 80 familias atendidas en los consultorios médicos ubicados en el Consejo Popular Norte, perteneciente al Policlínico Docente Edor de los Reyes Martínez Arias del municipio Jiguaní en la provincia de Granma, desde enero del 2004 hasta igual mes del 2015, a fin de establecer una estrategia de intervención que posibilitará el desarrollo del clima familiar afectivo y determinar su impacto en el bienestar subjetivo de la familia. Los resultados revelaron una relación entre clima familiar afectivo y bienestar subjetivo de la familia, un aumento en el nivel que indicaba buen desarrollo final de ambos y el establecimiento de interrelaciones más armoniosas entre los miembros de las familias(AU)

It was performed an experimental study in 80 families assisted in the medical offices located in the North Popular Council, belonging to the Teaching Polyclinic Edor de los Reyes Martinez Arias from the municipality Jiguaní in Granma province, from January 2004 to the same month in 2015, with the purpose to establish an intervention strategy that would enable the development of the affective family environment and determine their impact on the subjective welfare of the family. The results revealed a relationship between the affective family environment and the subjective welfare of the family, an increase in the level indicating a good final development and establishment of more harmonious relationships among family members(EU)

Desarrollo de la función afectiva en la familia y su impacto en la salud familiar integral / Development of the affective function in the family and its impact in the comprehensive family health

Se llevó a cabo un estudio experimental en 80 familias atendidas en los consultorios médicos ubicados en el Consejo Popular Norte, perteneciente al Policlínico Docente Edor de los Reyes Martínez Arias del municipio de Jiguaní en la provincia de Granma, desde enero del 2000 hasta igual mes del 2007, a fin de establecer una estrategia de intervención que posibilitara el desarrollo de la función afectiva y precisara su impacto en la salud familiar integral. Los resultados revelaron una relación entre función afectiva y salud familiar integral, un aumento en el nivel que indicaba buen desarrollo final de ambas y el establecimiento de interrelaciones más armoniosas entre los miembros de las familias, que incrementaron sus posibilidades de ser felices.

An experimental study in 80 families assisted in the doctor´s offices located in the Northern People´s Council, belonging to Edor de los Reyes Martínez Arias Teaching Polyclinic of Jiguaní municipality in Granma province was carried out from January, 2000 to the same month of 2007, in order to stablish an intervention strategy which make possible the development of the affective function and to specify its impact in the comprehensive family health. The results revealed a relationship between affective function and comprehensive family health, an increase in the level that indicated good final development of both and the establishment of more harmonious interrelations among the members of the families that increased their possibilities to be happy.