The methodological class is the type of teaching-methodological work that, through demonstration, argumentation and analysis, guides teachers on some aspects of a methodological nature that contribute to their preparation for the implementation of the educational process. The class can be of a demonstrative or instructive nature, and will respond to the methodological objectives formulated. The importance of the methodological teaching class for young teachers of the Basic Sciences in particular and from the assumption that the classes are classified on the basis of the objectives to be achieved and their main types are: the lecture, the practical class, the seminar, the meeting class, the laboratory practice and the workshop. The methodological conceptual problem was taken into account: Insufficiencies that are manifested in the young faculty of the faculty in the methodological structuring that requires the delivery of a laboratory practice. General Methodological Objective: To instruct young faculty members in the methodological structure that requires the delivery of a laboratory practice. When considering the relevance of the instructional methodological class it is praiseworthy to share the experience of an instructional methodological class from a laboratory practice, specifically related to the subject: Blood and Immune System.

Introduction: Metabolic indicators are biochemical markers that help to identify the health effects or not of physical stimulus, helping to make decisions related to directing specific sports training process and educational process in general.
Objective: To analyze values of renal profile (uric acid, creatinine and urea) in athletes of the Centro de Educación Física de la Escuela Superior Politécnica del Chimborazo (ESPOCH).
Methods: A representative sample (99 subjects, both sexes) of university athletes was studied, studying some renal indicators (uric acid, creatinine and urea) of interest to determine the assimilation levels in physical load.
Results: The average value obtained in uric acid was 4.2 mg/dL (Normal Level), the average value in creatinine of 0.6 mg/dL, with 10 subjects qualified qualitatively with a Low level (9.09%) and the rest with a qualitative qualification of Normal level, while the average value in urea was of 25.9 mg/dl (Normal Level). The linear correlations established between the three metabolic variables studied showed a weak positive influence.
Conclusions: The indicators obtained show a correct adaptation to physical load in university athletes under study, except for some particularities to be taken into account.

Introduction: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a zoonotic pathogen that causes human angiostrongyliasis; its main clinical manifestation is eosinophilic meningitis. It was reported in Cuba for the first time in America.

Objective: To review the main immunological findings about the human neuroimmune response against this parasite.

Materials and methods: This paper is based on a review of the papers mainly from Cuban authors published in the last 10 years about the human neuroimmune response against this helmint. This information becomes more relevant after the introduction of the African giant snail Lissachatina fulica in Cuba in 2014.

Results: The humoral immune response is based on the immunoglobulin intrathecal synthesis. When the third-stage larvae goes to the central nervous system at the first lumbar puncture there are no major immunoglobulin synthesis.  One week later an immune intrathecal response is done by a two class major immunoglobulin class mainly IgG+ IgA. Intrathecal activation of complement is evident of intrathecal synthesis of major immunoglobulins during this disease. The activation of complement system components in cerebrospinal fluid is relevant to the understanding of this tropical disease, which is emerging in the Western hemisphere. Intrathecal synthesis of at least one of the major immunoglobulins and a wide spectrum of patterns may be observed. Although intrathecal synthesis of C3c and IgE is always present, C4 intrathecal synthesis does not occur in every patient. The diversity of intrathecal synthesis and activation of the different complement pathways enables their division into three variant groups. In each one could be find the activation of one or several complement pathways including the participation of MBL, MASP-2 and ficolins as part of the lectin pathway complement activation.

Conclusion: The neuroimmune response against Angiostrongylus cantonensis eosinophilic meningoencephalitis is an example of the host-parasite interaction.

Objective: Considering that insulin is a clue hormone in glucose homeostasis, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects of this hormone infused into the isolated carotid sinus (ICS), on suprahepatic and arterial glucose levels. Methods: All procedures were carried out in accordance with the United States National Institutes of Health. Ten male Wistar rats 280-300 g anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (5 mg /100 g i.p.) after 12 h fasting were randomly divided into control and experimental groups.  Saline (100µL) or insulin (15 mIU/rat in 100 μL saline) were injected into the ICS. Blood was collected from catheters inserted in the suprahepatic vein (SHV), starting in the jugular vein and into the femoral artery (FA) were placed. Glucose levels were determined at -10 and -5 min before saline or insulin were injected in the ICS; and 1, 5, 10, 20, and 40 min after the above injection.  Results:Insulin injection significantly increased glucose levels in the SHV from 128.8 ± 5.2 mg/dL to 207.4 ± 10.6 mg/dL (p = 0.00005), while in the FA they increase from 123.4 ± 6.7 mg/dL to 199.8 ± 9.6 mg/dL(p = 0.0008) at 40 min after insulin injection. Control group with saline did not show significant changes (p = 0.97 in FA) and (p = 0.34 in SHV). The comparison between both groups was significant on arterial (p = 0.007) and venous (p = 0.003) blood glucose levels. Conclusion: As other studies report overactivation of the carotid bodies and sympathetic activity increase after insulin injections in the carotid artery, we assume that insulin in the carotid bodies (CBs)) activates hepatic glycogenolysis to increase blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia).

Introduction: Defining mechanisms governing the diffusion from blood to cerebrospinal fluid is central to understanding immune function in the central nervous system. OBJECTIVE. To describe the dynamics of diffusion of the lectin pathway components from blood to cerebrospinal fluid.

Methods: It was organized the information available in PubMed database and of papers from journals, and abstract books from international congresses belongs mainly to Cuban authors all about the lectin pathway of complement including manan-binding lectin (MBL) and ficolins complexed with the MBL-associated serine proteases (MASP2), and of other components like MASP3, Map44 as regulatory components and the different starters like MBL, ficolins and CLLK.

Results: All the lectin pathways component are blood derived proteins but at the same time it could be synthesized intrathecally. Most of the protein can be transferred from blood to cerebrospinal fluid in different aggregation forms and some of them can be described as a consuming curve. The control mechanism of regulation the lectin pathway can be followed by molecules as MASP3 and Map44.

Conclusions:The under- constructed lectin pathway of the complement system required not only the available information in different journals. It had to be completed by reviewing the congress abstract book and congress website of the last years

Introduction: Albumin is the protein that marks the passage of cerebrospinal fluid proteins into the serum.

Materials and methods: Serum albumin was quantified by bromocresol green dye technique and by using the modified microalbuminuria method and for protein in cerebrospinal fluid, the pyrogallol molybdate red complex technique and the bromocresol green method were used.

Results: Compared methods in serum, the modified ELISA method had a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 80% and the cut-off point was less than or equal to 58 g / L. In both fluids the bromocresol green method had a sensitivity of 72.7%, specificity of 60% and the cut-off point was greater than 34g / L. The areas under the ROC curves of the two methods did not show significant differences for p = 0.074. In the methods for protein in cerebrospinal fluid the pyrogallol molybdate red complex had a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 90.5 and the cut-off point was less than or equal to 960mg / L and the bromocresol green method had a sensitivity of 66.7, a specificity of 85.7 and a cut-off point less than or equal to 700mg / L. The comparison between the ROC curves of the two methods studied was significant with p=0.138.

Conclusions: The modified ELISA method is better than the bromocresol green method for protein in terms of specificity and sensitivity and in methods for quantifying serum albumin both methods do not show significant differences and have lower specificity and sensitivity than methods for quantifying protein in cerebrospinal fluid.

Introduction:The ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curves are widely used to compare methods in search of greater specificity and sensitivity in which they are selected.

Materials and methods: For the diagnosis of Guillain-Barré, different methods were used, such as the clinical one, which is performed in routine or basic clinical laboratories, radial immunodiffusion and neurophysiological, which are not mutually exclusive. The total number of patients studied was 347 divided into two groups: a probable group formed by 31 patients and not probable formed by 316 patients. For the quantification of albumin by radial immunodiffusion in serum and cerebrospinal fluid NOR and LC Partigen® plates were used by Siemens (Marburg, Germany) and by agglutination with modified particles of HELFA latex (CIE, BioCubaFarma, Havana).

Results: The Guillain-Barré Syndrome rapid diagnostic latex agglutination test showed little difference between the areas under the curve contrasted with the method considered as reference. As the other tests were incorporated into the diagnosis by latex agglutination, the area under the curve was increased. The area under the curve of the latex agglutination method was 0.742, showing that the technique of agglutination in albumin latex in cerebrospinal fluid does not replace the simple radial immunodiffusion for the immunological diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, but it does allow a diagnostic orientation as screening.

Conclusions: The latex agglutination test showed that it can be used for the rapid diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Introduction: The diffusion of proteins from the blood to the cerebrospinal fluid is influenced by its molecular weight and by the intrinsic properties and biological properties of the protein.

Materials and methods: Paired samples of serum and cerebrospinal fluid were taken from normal subjects to quantify albumin and proteins of the lectin pathway of the complement system. The distribution of these with regard to the value of QAlbúmin = (Albumin in serum / albumin in cerebrospinal fluid) was evaluated because this protein is used as a marker of the passage of the barrier.

Results: It was observed that some of these describe a saturation pattern which resembles the curves that describe the Michaelis-Menten reaction of enzymatic activity. This led to the consideration of two constants that will help to characterize the behavior of these proteins by spreading to the cerebrospinal fluid: the maximum Q of the protein, which is the maximum proportion found empirically between the concentrations in blood and cerebrospinal fluid and the value Kcdw which is the value of the average diffusion speed of Q albumin when the semi-maximal value of the Q of the protein under study is obtained.

Conclusions: Empirically obtained constants will help the characterization and differentiation of the diffusion of these new proteins as they pass from the blood to the cerebrospinal fluid.

Introduction: MASP-2 is one of the starters of the lectin pathway, the third complement pathway which components and sequence is now under construction.

Objective: Evaluate the MASp-2 blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics throughout the behavior of this protein in both compartments and its relation with the flux velocity.

Materials and methods: 56 serum and CSF samples simultaneously taken were studied with or without blood-CSF dysfunction. CSF and serum MASP-2 levels were measured by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.

Results: A saturation curve-like was obtained when plotting CSF MASP-2 vs. the molecular flux done by its Q albumin values. These empirical results allowed a re-evaluation of the protein characteristics of MASP-2 with a new group of parameters. Those ones can help to describe its properties since the neuroimmunological point of view according to the capacity to diffuse free or in associated forms in the different blood—CSF barriers. The experimental values mimics the enzymatic kinetic curves and serves to name at least new parameters of this molecule CSF/serum diffusion rate Kdacw and saturation MASP-2 concentration, 40, 96 and 26, 78 respectively.

Conclusions: These new parameters can characterize MASP-2 in its diffusion throughout the blood-CSF barrier.

Chronic renal failure (CRF) represents a world health problem. Ozone increases the endogenous antioxidant defense system, preserving the cell redox state. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of ozone/oxygen mixture in the renal function, morphology, and biochemical parameters, the rol of cytokine number 6 in an experimental model of CRF (subtotal nephrectomy). Ozone/oxygen mixture was applied daily, by rectal insufflation (0.5 mg/kg) for 15 sessions after the nephrectomy. Renal function was evaluated, as well as different biochemical parameters, at the beginning and at the end of the study(10 weeks). Renal plasmatic flow (RPF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), the urine excretion index, and the sodium and potassium excretions (as a measurement of tubular function) in the ozone group were similar to those in Sham group. Nevertheless, nephrectomized rats without ozone (positive control group) showed the lowest RPF, GFR, and urine excretion figures, as well as tubular function.. Serum creatinine values and protein excretion in 24 hours in the ozone group were decreased compared with nephrectomized rats, but were still higher than normal values. Histological study demonstrated that animals treated with ozone showed less number of lesions in comparison with nephrectomized rats. Proinflammatory cytokine (IL-6) was decrease in renal tissue after ozone by rectal insunnflation.  However, ozone/oxygen mixture induced a significant stimulation in the enzymatic activity of CAT, SOD, and glutathione peroxidase, as well as reduced glutathione in relation with Sham and positive control groups. In this animal model of CRF, ozone rectal administrations produced a delay in the advance of the disease, protecting the kidneys against vascular, hemorheological, and oxidative mechanisms. This behavior suggests ozone therapy has a protective effect on renal tissue by down regulation of the oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokine shown in CRF.

Introduction:  In recent  years,  the relationship  between  the systematic  practice  of physical  exercise,  cardiovascular  dynamics  and  the  functioning  of  the  autonomic nervous system has been recognized.

Objective: To determine the modifications that non-linear parameters undergo in the autonomic cardiovascular regulation of the heart rate variability with the systematic practice of physical exercise.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analytical study was conducted from February 2016 to August 2018. Population and sample: 36 individuals (Group 1: 18 high- performance baseball athletes; Group 2:  18 medical students). The  data  were collected  in  the  Biomedical  Basic  Sciences  Laboratory  at  Medical  school  1, University  of Santiago  de Cuba,  through  the 8-channel  PowerLab  polygraph,  and stored using the Kubios Software version 3.0.4 Premium.

Results: Statistically significant differences between means were found in heart rate values (p = 0.000); SD1 (p = 0.025); SD2/SD1 ratio (p = 0.007); sample entropy (p = 0.011); short-term fluctuations α 1 (p = 0.019); mean line length (p = 0.016); max line length (p = 0.001); recurrence rate (p = 0.034); determinism (p = 0.010) and Shannon entropy (p = 0.015). The parameters of SD1 (C = 0.906) and sample entropy (C = 0.712) were significantly associated with a heart rate ≤ 70 beats per minute.

Introduction: Universities confront the challenge to train professionals to face different problems, deterioration of the environment is one of them. Universities must promote the environmental training of professionals through the inclusion of the environmental dimension in the teaching process. In the case of health professionals this issue has a greater connotation due to the relationships between environmental problems and health problems.

Objective: To propose a strategy on environmental training aimed at the sustainable human development in medical studies.

Methods: Literature review on the topic was done and theoretical methods were used. Different definitions and varied structures were contrasted.

Results: Structure of the proposed strategy including components and stages was designed.

Conclusions: A strategy for environmental training aimed at the sustainable human development to introduce the environmental dimension in the medical studies is proposed.

The evaluation of the neuroimmunoepidemiological response from the reibergram allows the determination of the specific antibody index for a determined etiological agent. This evaluation has served to know the behavior of the neuroimmune response in pediatric patients to different herpesviruses, evaluate the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns and find a response that helps in the diagnosis of various processes that affect this system.

Background: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are important causes of infant mortality, which result from a complex interaction between genetics and environmental factors such as trace elements, which play and crucial role in the epigenetic regulation in the embryo fetal developmental program.

Objectives: To measure the maternal serum levels of copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium in mothers with offspring affected by NTDs, and to examine a possible relationship between the serum concentrations of these micronutrients and occurrence of NTDs.

Design: Case-controls study.

Subjects and Methods: Maternal serum blood samples were obtained from 72 healthy pregnant women and 36 mothers who had NTDs affected offspring, including those alive, stillbirths and elective pregnancy’ termination at Centro Provincial de Genetica in Villa Clara. Copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium levels in serum were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry and were compared between the two groups of mothers.

Results: Serum zinc levels were determined to be significantly lower in the study group compared with the control group, while copper levels were significant elevated in the study group (all p values < .05). There was a negative correlation between serum zinc levels and serum copper levels. However, no association between calcium and magnesium serum levels and increased risk for the development of NTDs was observed.

Conclusions: High maternal serum levels of copper and lower level of zinc during pregnancy were associated with NTDs in offspring. If folic acid supplementation is given, additional zinc supplementation should be considered for the further decrease in the recurrence risk of NTDs.

Introduction: In the Medical Studies, environmental education becomes an imperative for the training of this type of professional, given the relationship between environmental problems and health problems. The Environmental Education for Sustainable Development, considered as the environmental dimension of comprehensive education, must be present in all the leading documents of the curriculum since it is considered a transverse axis of these, which is related to general objectives unattainable from a single subject and / or discipline, so it must be present in the medical training curriculum.

Objective: To propose a modality of inclusion of the Environmental Dimension, through the Curricular Strategy of Public Health and Environmental Training in different subjects of the Basic Sciences of the discipline known as Biological Basis of Medicine in medical studies mayor.

Methods: Documents of the study plan of the Medical Studies, the discipline known as Biological Bases of Medicine and important environmental aspects are analyzed, through different theoretical methods.

Results: The relationship between the environmental dimension and contents in different subjects of Basic Sciences of the discipline Biological Bases of Medicine is established.

Conclusions: We propose a modality of inclusion of the environmental dimension, through the Curricular Strategy of Public Health and Environmental Training, in contents of different subjects of Basic Sciences in Biological Bases of Medicine discipline within these studies.

Background: The principal cause of cervical cancer is human papillomavirus. In Camaguey population, molecular study about human papillomavirus does not exist. The Polimerase Chain Reaction is a molecular procedure often used for medical diagnostic; it allow to confirm the human papillomavirus DNA in the total DNA purified of cervical cancer patients sample.

Objetive: The first time demonstration the human papillomavirus circulating in the cancer cervical patients of Camaguey population, Cuban.

Methods: The analytic study was carried out with 22 patients of the pathology consult of Genecology hospital of Camaguey. The identification and characterization of human papillomavirus genotype was carried out through restriction fragment lenght polymorphic procedure.

Results: The mean age was 52.3 years and the more frequency was the 50-59 age group in 50% of the women. Were studied by cytology only 10 women and the false negative of the cytology was of 80%. The 63.3 percent of patients showed exophytic lesion, 4.5 percent endophytic lesion and 3.8 percent another lesion. Were studied by cytology only 10 women of the total participants and the false negatives were of 80%. The 16 and 31 was the circulation genotypes in the Camaguey population and the 16 genotype was the most frequently.

Conclusions: This is the first report of molecular study of human papillomavirus in cervical cancer patients on Camaguey, Cuban. Present research and the other research of Cuban authors is an important contribution to therapeutic and prevent vaccine more effective in the solution anticipate for the cervical cancer in Cuban.

Background: Several parts of Zea mays (maize) have been used for the treatment of several ailments including inflammatory conditions.

Objective: to evaluate the modulatory effect on carrageenan-induced inflammation of the methanol extract of Zea mays cob husk in Albino rats.

Methods: 9.45% maize cob husks methanol extract was obtained by soxhlet extraction and the phytochemical screening was done. The carrageenan-induced paw edema model of acute inflammation was carried out to 30 Albino rats which were divided into five groups, two controls (negative and positive) and three experimental. A single oral methanol extract (100, 200 or 400mg/Kg) were administered to the experimental groups. Indomethacin 10mg/Kg was used as positive control. The paw volume up to the tribiotural articulation was measured at 0, 1, 3 and 6^th hours. Inflammation was expressed as an increase in paw volume due to carrageenan injection and the percentage inhibition produced by the extracts was calculated to assess the anti-inflammatory activity. Acute toxicity study was conducted. ANOVA test was applied and P value less than 0.05 were considered significant.

Results: saponins, tannins and polyphenols were present in the plant extract. Doses below 5000mg/Kg were considered safe. Significant anti-inflammatory activity was shown at 400mg/Kg after sixth hours.

Conclusions: The anti-inflammatory effect of Zea mays cob husk extract may be attributed to the presence of saponins, tannins and polyphenols. Percentage inhibition of inflammation by the extracts showed dose and time dependence. The anti-inflammatory effect was found significant for safe concentrations of the plant extract.

Introduction: Quincke´s Scholarship deals with themes related to neuroinmunology and the complement system.

Objective: Describe the most recent advances of the Vll Edition of Quincke´s Scholarship

Matherial and Methods: Publications pertaining to Quincke´s Scholarship were selected and revised from the work group of the Central Lab of Cerebrospinal fluid (LABCEL).           

Results: The principal topic was the C1q protein; initiator of the clasic complement pathway. From the analisis of the molecular concentration of this protein, its transference and the correlations between the concentration of C1q protein in cerebrospinal fluid (LCR) and the  quotient of albumin (QAlb) between LCR and plasma it is hypothesized that an intratecal synthesis of the C1q in patients with a disfunction of the blood-brain barrier. The most recently discovered pathway in the activation of the complement is the lectin pathway. The diffusion of the MASP-3 protein from blood to LCR is proof that the  MASP-3 is synthesized in the leptomeninges. The reibergram is useful to evaluate the inmune response in patients with: neurological manifestations caused by the dengue virus, and patients with multiple sclerosis.

Conclusions: The Vll Edition of Quincke´s Scholarship dealt with C1q protein and recently discovered themes of the lectin pathway and the use of the reibergram.

Objective: To describe the neuroimmunological actions produced by melatonin.

Matherials and methods: A review on the subject was carried out using articles of free access in the Pubmed database from 2015 to January 2019.

Discussion: The effects of melatonin on the wake-sleep cycle are known. Recently it has been shown that this neurohormone can modulate the immune response and reduce seizures in autoimmune and rheumatologic diseases. It induces the pattern of regulatory T lymphocytes and immunomodulatory cytokines maintaining the homeostasis of the internal environment. In the Central Nervous System inhibits the formation of free radicals, has antioxidant functions and can slow neurodegenerative processes. In the peripheral nerves decreases oxidative stress and cellular apoptosis. There are drugs that use melatonin as an active ingredient for its beneficial effects. In Cuba, only the history of a publication on this hormone is collected.

Conclusions: Melatonin can be a very useful element in the management of inflammatory and neurological diseases.

Alzheimer´s disease increases its global incidence and prevalence, the WHO includes the disease among the main problems in public health today. Cuba is not apart from this reality. Biochemical markers pretends to enhance its early diagnosis. Objective: to determine myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), lipid profile and thyroid function, in patients who suffer from Alzheimer´s disease. Methods: it was a case and control analytic observational study, in patients from the Santa Clara polyclinic. The MPO activity, total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, total triglycerides, VLDL, total T₃ and T₄, and TSH were determined in serum of both groups. Results: no association was found between MPO activity and the presence of the disease (p = 0.348).There was an almost absolute predominance of low levels of HDL-c, more evident in cases (0.43mmol/L), the levels of T₃ tended to be close to the lower limit of the physiological range (1.46nmol/L), a relevant finding was a general presence of subclinical hypothyroidism (23.75 %), with no significant differences between groups. Conclusions: The Alzheimer´s disease keeps showing its increasing with age and it is more common in females. High levels of LDL-c and low of HDL-c are frequent in the elderly. Higher levels of HDL-c and T₃, this last one into the physiological range, act as protectors against the disease. The subclinical hypothyroidism is present and remains hidden in many of the elder with Alzheimer or not. In a high number of patients, coexist Alzheimer´s disease and some diseases from the metabolic syndrome, as dyslipidemias.

The objective of this work was to evaluate in a model of chronic ulcer the antiulcer effect and the possible mechanisms by which this fruit produces gastroprotection. The pulp of the green fruit was sliced, dried at 50 ^oC, ground and sieved. Ninety Male Wistar rats of 190 ± 10 g were used.   The antiulcer effect of pulp was performed with the chronic model of ulcer by acetic acid, used 5 groups of 8 animal, the suspension of the pulp at 125; 250; 500 mg / kg BW were applied 72 hours after inducing the ulcer for 7 days. For the determination of the mechanisms, also 5 groups of 10 animal were used, the banana pulp was supplied in a dose of 125, 250 and 500 mg / kg of BW, for three days, before inducing the ulcers with indomethacin, the activity of the myeloperoxidase, the superoxide dismutase and the levels of prostaglandins in the gastric mucosa were determined. Treatment with the suspensions of the pulp in the chronic ulcer model reduced in a very highly significant way the damaged area in all the treated groups and this reduction was greater than that produced by ranitidine; there was a significant decrease in myeloperoxidase only with the highest dose tested and a significant increase of superoxide dismutase and prostaglandins level with all the doses used. We conclude that the pulp preparations provoked an intense anti-ulcer. The mechanism of gastroprotective action was mediated by an antioxidant effect and mucosal protection.

Introduction: The autonomic nervous system has been related to an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and cardiac output in situations of stress.

Objective: To determine the modifications that the non-linear parameters undergo in the autonomic cardiovascular regulation of the heart rate variability subjected to mental stress through the mental arithmetic test.

Material and Method: A non-observational quasi-experimental study of before-after type without control group was conductedin  the  Biomedical  Basic  Sciences  Laboratory  at  Medical  school  1, University  of Santiago  de Cuba, from March 2016 to August 2018. A group of 10 Medical Students constituted the population and sample.

Results: Statistically significant differences between means were found in Heart rate values (p = 0.000), SD1 (p = 0.002), SD2/SD1rate (p = 0.000), Sample Entropy (p = 0.026), Short-term fluctuations α 1 (p = 0.000), CorrelationDimension (p = 0.020), Max line length (p = 0.017), Recurrence rate (p = 0.007), Determinism (p = 0.003), Multiscale Entropy minimum(p = 0.001), Multiscale Entropy maximum(p = 0.000) and MultiscaleEntropyAverage (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: The non-linear parameters in the cardiovascular autonomic regulation of Heart rate, SD1, SD2/SD1 rate, Sample Entropy, Short-term fluctuations α 1, Correlation Dimension, Max line length, Recurrence rate, Determinism, Multiscale Entropy Minimum, Multiscale Entropy Maximum and Multiscale Entropy Average experienced variations in patients subjected to mental stress through the arithmetic calculation test.

A descriptive and traverse study was performed in patients with diagnosis of optic neuritis,  that attended  to the neuro ophthalmology service of the ophthalmological center, at the Santiago General Hospital "Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso ", from the province of Santiago de Cuba, with less than a week of evolution of the disease, and  visual acuity greater than 0.3, cooperatives and without refractive  opacities, or neuro ophthalmologic diseases, during the period from December 2017 to November 2018.  Ophthalmological clinical evaluations and electrophysiological studies of visual evoked potentials to pattern reversal, at diagnosis and eight weeks of evolution were carried out.

Objective: To identify the relationship possible between the electrophysiological parameters obtained by visual evoked potentials with the ophthalmological clinical evaluation.

Results: alterations predominantly of the parameters of latency and duration of the visual evoked potentials, in relation to the impairment of the clinical evaluations explored.

Conclusions:The visual evoked potentials are an effective tool in diagnosis, and complement   the clinical evaluation of patients with optic neuritis.

A way to overcome the blood transfusion disadvantages is determining and developing transfusion competencies. The research aims were to identify the elements of transfusion medicine competency and to describe the fundaments for its implementation in the specialty of Anesthesiology and Reanimation. Transfusion competencies include, among others, knowledge of the risks of blood-borne infections, safe prescription of blood products, identification of transfusion reactions, and competently perform and teach undergraduates the procedure of intravenous infusion of blood and blood products. It also includes knowing and updating on ethical, scientific and legal issues of blood components transfusion. In Anesthesiology and Reanimation, transfusion medicine competency also involves demonstration of knowledge, abilities and values for the preoperative preparation of the patients with anemia, bleeding risk and other hematological illnesses, for the use of pharmacological and non pharmacological alternatives, as well as for blood components’ economy. Being competent in transfusion medicine in this specialty implies an important and substantial reduction of the general morbidity-mortality and particularly that associated with transfusion complications, and requires the capacity of mobilize the set of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values in a comprehensive and pertinent way in order to transfuse less and better, with more safety and less expenditures.

Objective: To describe the role of hormones, diet, stress and infections in the etiology of autoimmune diseases.

Material and Methods: A bibliographic review was made using the Google Scholar and articles of free access in the Pubmed and Scielo database from 2015 to 2019. The search terms were used according to the DeCS and MeSH descriptors.

Development: It is well known that female hormones increase the risk of autoimmune diseases. Stress can maintain low-grade chronic inflammatory responses that cause tissue damage, initiating or aggravating the clinical manifestations of autoimmunity. An adequate diet allows the guests of the intestinal microbiota to maintain the homeostasis of the immune system. Today, glutamate is used as a flavor enhancer, especially in developed countries. Perhaps it is one of the causes of the higher incidence of autoimmune diseases in these regions.

Conclusions: Autoimmune diseases are more frequent in women. Adequate nutrition allows the gut microbiota not to be altered and to maintain immunological homeostasis. Infections and stress situations can trigger or exacerbate the clinical manifestations of autoimmunity.

Introduction: a number of adjustments of the cardiovascular system are required during isometric exercise; variations in the components involved in young people blood pressure response result controversial.

Objective: to determine the difference between gender at baseline hemodynamic parameters and during isometric Sustained Weight Test in normorreactive, hyperreactive and with hypertensive response young people.

Methods: sample was constituted by 97 young people of both genders, 41 males and 56 females, with an average age of 19±1,40 years, whom was applied hemodynamic monitoring in supine decubitus position with non-invasive by impedance cardiography at rest and while the sustained weight test was performed.

Results: significantly superior values of heart rate and cardiac index were obtained in normorreactive women in basal conditions, and at the exercise. Normorreactive male had significantly higher systemic vascular resistance index than females in both conditions and the hypertensive response group had differences only in the exercise. Women achieved higher heart rate increments than men during isometric exercise. Systemic vascular resistance index were increased in all groups of both genders, mainly in normorreactive men.

Conclusions: at baseline, women had higher values of hemodynamic variables related to cardiac activity and men related to vascular tone. Differences between both genders remained during isometric exercise, and the increased blood pressure was mainly due to the increase of systemic vascular resistance.

Aim: to determine the indicators of oxidative stress and risk factors in patients with premalignant and malignant lesions of the cervix.

Methods: A total of 150 women were studied: 40 with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, 40 with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, 40 with stage IIB squamous cell carcinoma and 30 with negative cytology taken as a control, from the Gynecology Service of the “Chiqui Gómez” Polyclinic, and Oncology Service “Celestino Hernández” Hospital of Santa Clara, aged between 19 and 70. The information on the risk factors was obtained through an individualized interview, and oxidative stress indicators were determined by spectrophotometric techniques. The comparison and association between groups was carried out with the support of the statistical program SPSS.

Results: The levels of antioxidant enzymes showed a significant decrease in both groups of squamous intraepithelial lesion, glutathione decreased significantly in the three groups of lesions, while malonildialdehyde significantly increased in the same groups with respect to the control. The risk factors with the highest incidence in the affected women were early sexual contact, the number of sexual partners, the use of oral contraceptives, exposure to environmental toxins and the habit of smoking.

Conclusions: There is an oxidative imbalance in the cases due to the decrease of the antioxidant enzymatic system, where the reduced levels of glutathione contribute to the increase of the lipid peroxidation. Risk factors may influence exposure to the papilloma virus and lead to the development of premalignant and malignant lesions in the cervix.

Objective: To identify a core set of research procedures for genetic epidemiology that need to be learnt to obtain a scientific degree in subjects related to basic biomedical sciences.

Methods: We discuss the results of six research projects in the area of genetic epidemiology about complex phenotypes. We show in the studied phenotypes the higher prevalence in relatives compared to the general population, the higher risk among first-degree relatives of affected individuals, and the segregation mode of each phenotype. Meanwhile, to show the influence of environmental factors and various analysis of gene-environment interaction using different models. Finally, we discuss the common research procedures followed during these studies.

Results: research studies in the subject of genetic epidemiology can be divided into three broad categories: (1) those that aim at describing the distribution of a disease or a determinant at the level of a population of interest (familiar hereditary angioedema, reproductive failure); (2) those that attempt to investigate a potential aetiological link between one or more specific determinants and a disease of interest (congenital birth defects, cervix cancer, and longevity) and (3) those aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention applied to groups of individuals in the population (hypoplasia foetal thymus).

Conclusions: We have identified, a set of theoretical topics as well as study techniques and methodologies for the approach of research projects in genetic epidemiology, could be considered as the general and specific bases for postgraduate teaching in relation to obtaining a doctorate in basic biomedical sciences in our University and could be useful to other Universities of similar contexts.

Objective: Oxidative stress is supposed to be involved in cardiovascular pathology through vascular cell damage. Identification of oxidative stress markers can represent a method for early diagnosis of vascular dysfunction. Biomolecular mechanisms of the vascular damage remain partially understood.

Material and Methods: In vitro and ex vivo studies were performed in order to investigate the role of oxidative stress and the potential preventive action of antioxidant agents against activation, proliferation and/or apoptosis of human endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. The expression and activity of oxidative stress enzymes, reactive oxygen species and O₂^- radicals, including NADPH oxidase isoforms were evaluated, as well as leukocyte adhesion assay and the expression of cell adhesion molecules. In addition, histological and immunohistochemical analysis of human aorta tissue were performed.

Results: We detected higher levels of oxidative stress markers during endothelial activation and leukocyte recruitment. In addition, oxidative stress was involved in the modulation of cell proliferation, vascular smooth cell phenotype, and cell apoptosis. Vascular and endothelial dysfunction by oxidative stress was mediated by NADPH oxidase 4 activity. The treatment with antioxidant agents such as ascorbic acid, NAC and NADPH oxidase 4 specific inhibitors prevented oxidative stress-induced vascular and endothelial dysfunction.

Conclusion: We demonstrated that oxidative stress is pivotal in vascular and endothelial dysfunction. Moreover, our data provide additional information about the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. The identification of those oxidative stress markers in vascular cells will allow an early diagnosis and an appropriate antioxidant therapeutic approach.

Aim: To determine indicators of oxidative stress in long-lived individuals.

Methods: 120 subjects were studied and two groups were formed: 50 individuals older than 85 years of nuclear families and 70 adults under 60 years old taken as a control group, all belonging to the municipality of Santa Clara. Indicators of antioxidant defense status included enzymatic activities superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations. The determinations were made with the use of spectrophotometric techniques, and the comparisons between the groups were made through the statistical program SPSS with a level of significance of 95%.

Results: The activity of the antioxidant enzyme SOD and GSH levels showed significant differences when comparing both study groups. In the case of the SOD enzyme, the group of long-lived individuals showed a significant reduction in their activity compared to the controls, while GSH levels also decreased in this group. The CAT enzyme activity showed no significant differences between the two study groups.

Conclusions: The decrease in enzymatic activity SOD accompanied by a decrease in GSH levels could be an indicator of a state of oxidative imbalance in individuals older than 85 years, which increases their susceptibility to the action of reactive oxygen species.

Introduction: A descriptive and traverse study was performed in patients with Parkinson's disease of the Neurology and Neurophysiology department of the Santiago General Hospital "Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas" from Santiago de Cuba, during the period from March 2017 to May 2018. The cognitive evoked potentials (P300-CNV) and a clinical neuropsychological evaluation were carried out.

Objective: To identify the relationship possible between cognitive evoked potentials and clinical-neuropsychological variables as diagnostic of the cognitive alterations that occur in patients.

Results: a significant prolongation of the latency, with a decrease in the amplitudes of the P300 and CNV with modifications in the morphology of the potential when the clinical neuropsychological evaluations were altered. These suggest that exist a delay in the cognitive processing of information, a decrease in the intensity of selective attention processes and hypofunction in cortical activation with asynchrony in the neurogenerators, in patients with Parkinson's disease, when the clinical and cognitive evaluations are altered.

Conclusions: the cognitive evoked potentials are useful, and complement the clinical and neuropsychological evaluation.

Introduction: High Blood Pressure is considered a devastating disease due to its several complications, which do not manifest until there is severe damage established, reason why the electrocardiogram can be a tool easily accessible in clinical practice to detect cardiac complications that may happen in the future allowing us to act early in their treatment.
Objective: Identify the electrocardiographic modifications present in hypertensive patients without associated diseases.

Methods: An analytical observational study of case-control in hypertensive patients without associated diseases or supposedly healthy patients, belonging to the Family Medical Office # 17.30, of the "Chiqui Gómez Lubián" Polyclinic; Santa Clara municipality was carried out in the period from November 2017 to February 2018.

Results: Maximum P-wave mean was significantly higher in the case group (56.43 ms vs 35 ms control group, p= 0,000), behaving similarly when comparing P-wave dispersion in both groups (56, 43 ± 19, 48 ms vs 35, 00 ± 16, 98 p=0,001). Maximum corrected QT interval showed significant differences between both groups (471, 75 ±32, 04 ms vs 448, 36 ±40, 84 ms, p= 0,020), QT dispersion did not showed significant differences. The maximum JT segment and its dispersion did not showed to be significantly different.

Conclusions: P wave dispersion, maximum P wave, maximum QRS, its dispersion and the maximum QT interval showed significant differences between both groups; those results were findings on hypertensive patients group. On this sample the increase QT intervals could be dependent on QRS but not on the JT interval.

Introduction: Obesity, "epidemic of the XXI century", affects the cardiovascular system, whose diseases are among the leading causes of morbimortality in most developed countries, as well as in some developing nations such as Cuba, where mortality rate of cardiovascular causes reached 228.2 every 100000 inhabitants in 2018.

Classification: observational of prevalence, descriptive-correlational; transversal; and applied.

Objective: To describe functional cardiac modifications associated with overnutrition and expressed during and after physical effort, Havana, Cuba.

Population: 102 subjects who attended said laboratory with to have a periodical health follow-up from January 2017 to April 2018, of 30-70 years of age, without personal history of ischemic heart disease or contraindications to perform an Exercise Stress Test, and in whose attention the researchers participated.

Method: Anamnesis, physical exam, bioimpedance and exercise stress test. The subjects were classified according to body fat percentage: groups N (normal), H (high) and V (very high).

Results: 83 subjects completed the study, predominating women and subjects of 50-59 years of age. The most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors were overnutrition, sedentary lifestyle and hypertension. Functional capacity was diminished with the increase in body fat percentage (BFP). In subjects of group N there was no ST-segment deviation. 18 subjects presented arrhythmia during and after the exercise, among them 88,2% had a BFP higher than normal; the most frequent arrhythmias were sinus tachycardia and ventricular extrasystole.

Conclusions: overnutrition is associated with functional cardiac modifications that imply an increase of cardiovascular risk, with decreased exercise tolerance and augmented incidence of ischemia and cardiac arrhythmias.

Introduction: A current purpose of the medical education is to achieve the prominence of the biomedical subjects in the preparation of the doctors. The suitable motivation is the most adapted way to reach it. In Cuba, the medical teaching has assumed changes with marked incidence in the biomedical subjects. The morphophysiology emerged to integrate with didactic ends the morphological and physiological contents. What created disjunctives about the methods and means for the teaching morphological contents, in front of the tendency to substitute the traditional forms by computer images. It was a problem to resolve by means of the educational search work and methodological scientist.   

Objective:  This work has the aim to value the impact of pedagogical didactic – actions implemented in medicine students of first year to develop cognitive ability in profit of the process of education learning.

Methods: The universe was the learning results of the medicine students and the courses among 2008 and 2013 constituted the sample. By random way were taken in each course experimental and control groups. In the first was stimulated the motivation with the method basic on problem, the employment of the optical microscope, histological slides and anatomical pieces. The averages of the experimental groups and controls was compared, in the same manner was compared with total and the accumulated average.

Results: The averages of the experimental groups resulted upper to the of the groups control and to the academic average accumulated. Of this way verified the hypothesis posed that the actions implemented in the methodological didactic conception based in the method basic on problem resulted favourable for the development of the cognitive ability of the students.

Conclusions: The method basic on problem link with means of traditional education in the morphological sciences, combining them properly with the new means of digitalized images stimulates the motivation, favours the development of cognitive ability and increases the academic results.

Introduction: The methodological work of the department of morfofisiología loans special attention to the quality of the educational process. One of the purposes is the suitable employment of the valued criterion of the professor like a focus of the efficiency of the process, that it is useful to his time also for the prediction of the educational results, in the individual and collective.

Objective:The present work studies the correlation of the valued criterion of the professor with the achievement of the aims of the subjects, expressed this last by the educational results obtained in the ordinary examination. It was studied its chronological behavior in the period of five years

Material and Methods: A matrix of correlation was created. We determined the coefficient of Spearman. Some factors that could influence in its objectivity predict were also identified by the study.

Results:The review of the registers of methodological meetings, open classes and newspapers of classes allowed us to identify some factors that could act on the valued criterion of the professor. They can improve the objectivity of the correlation between this criterion and the academic achieving at the final examination in the subject of molecular biology in the students of first year on medicine career.

Conclusions: To attention and systematic monitory of the individual educational evolution and collective in the methodological work of the subject and in the department, attains to increase the efficiency of the valued criterion of the professor and its correlation with the ends academic results. The results constitute an educational innovation for the methodological work in the subjects that integrate the Biological Bases of the Medicine.

Objective: To determine the chromosomal constitution of infertile individuals.

Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out based on the results of the karyotypes in peripheral blood in infertile individuals. The sample consisted of infertile patients of both sexes, from the province of Villa Clara who were studied in the Cytogenetics Laboratory of the Provincial Center of Genetics, between the years 1991 and 2017. We analyzed the chromosome formulas obtained and the age of the subjects at the time of diagnosis.

Results: 232 individuals were studied, of which 97 were males and 135 females. 27.15% of the karyotypes were positive and in all, the sex chromosomes were involved. We found numerical chromosomal aberrations in thirty-one men (32%) in relation to Klinefelter Syndrome and variants. Thirty-two women (23.7%) had positive karyotype, where structural aberrations of the X chromosome and mosaicism predominated. The diagnosis of seven women with karyotype 46, XY (Androgen insensitivity Syndrome) and two 45,X/46,XY (Mixed gonadal dysgenesis) was significant. The average age at diagnosis in men was 31 years and in women 22 years.

Conclusions: Karyotyping is an essential study in infertility. The detailed clinical examination of this type of patients would facilitate early diagnosis and adequate therapeutics.

Introducción: La epilepsia constituye un grupo de síndromes neurológicos crónicos derivados de las alteraciones de las funciones cerebrales que cursan con crisis paroxísticas recurrentes desencadenadas por descargas eléctricas anormales.

Objetivo: revisar los conocimientos más actuales, relacionados con las bases genéticas de la  fisiopatología de la epilepsia.

Material y método: se utilizaron los métodos análisis-síntesis, inducción-deducción e histórico-lógico y se emplearon  bibliografías disponibles en la Biblioteca Virtual de Salud.

Resultados: Mecanismos que se relacionan con las descargas eléctricas: disminución de los mecanismos inhibidores gabaérgicos, aumento de los mecanismos excitadores mediados por acido aspártico, y glutámico, y  alteración de la conducción transmembrana de los iones sodio y calcio. Se identificaron genes implicados en los canales iónicos neuronales del sodio, potasio, cloro, calcio (SCN1A, SCN1B, SCN2A, KCNQ2, KCNQ3, CLCN2, CACNA1H), con los receptores para los neurotrasmisores acetilcolina y GABA: los CHRNA4 y CHRNB2. Mecanismos epigenéticos: metilación del ADN y los micro ARN de la epileptogénesis. Fármacos según neurotransmisor : glutamato (excitatorio) :topiramato y talampanel, felbamato, ketamina. GABA(inhibitorio) de acción directa: benzodiazepinas  diazepam, clobazam y barbitúricos ( fenobarbital, loreclezol, felbamato, carisbamato.) Fármacos con acción indirecta sobre el GABA: ácido valproico, tiagabina,vigabatrina( aumento del tono gabaérgico mediante la inactivación ¨suicida¨e irreversible de la enzima que metaboliza el GABA, . Otros fármacos: gabapentina, losigamona.

Conclusión: La heterogeneidad y naturaleza de los mecanismos genéticos de la epileptogénesis influye en la variabilidad clínica y frecuencia de la enfermedad.

Introduction: The effectors of autoimmune diseases are the mechanisms of hypersensitivity. These processes also appear in cancer, which can give rise to autoinflammation.
Objective: To describe the causality between autoimmune diseases and cancer.
Methods: A literature review was performed using the Google Scholar and articles freely available on the basis of PubMed and Scielo January 2014 to February 2018. Data search terms were used as descriptors of the DeCS and MeSH.

Development: Autoimmune diseases are chronic inflammatory processes caused by failures in tolerance. The mechanisms and specific processes that initiate the damage are still unknown. The activity of inflammatory cells and soluble pro-inflammatory mediators leads to a greater recruitment of endothelial cells and promotes angiogenesis. Persistent inflammation (chronic or low grade) can often promote tumor development, tumor progression and invasion. In the tumor environment there is release of molecular patterns associated with damage (DAMPs), which mimic a sterile lesion and recruit cells of innate immunity, which can promote an inflammatory environment and cause an autoimmune phenomenon.
Conclusions: Inflammatory responses can improve tumor growth and progression. Cancer can develop self-immunity or arise secondary to the genetic and epigenetic changes of autoinflammation. The causality between cancer and autoimmunity is bidirectional, they perpetuate themselves and are the product of inflammatory processes.

Abstract

Introduction: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is used as a flavor enhancer, but its actions in health are a debated issue. Its effects on the Psychoneuroendocrine-immune system are not known.
Objectives: To determine the effect of monosodium glutamate on body mass, reproduction and lactation in Balb / c mice and their offspring.
Materials and methods: 20 mice in the neonatal period are administered subcutaneous GMS 4mg / kg diluted in 10 microliters of distilled water and others with 0.9% NaCl. At 90 days the Lee Index is calculated to determine the body weight, then they are paired in 4 groups of 5 mice where males and females are interbreed with GMS and 0.9% NaCl. The weight of the offspring in these crosses is compared to indirectly assess lactation.
Results: 100% of mice treated with MSG are obese because they have a Lee Index higher than 0.300. The females with GMS give birth to less than 4 offspring while the females (NaCl) mate with males (GMS) have an average offspring of 4-5 offspring. The weight of the offspring born of parents treated with MSG is lower than those not treated.
Conclusions: MSG administered subcutaneously in murine neonates induces obesity. Reproduction and lactation are affected in those treated with MSG since the number of offspring and the body weight of their offspring is lower than that of the untreated.

Keywords: Monosodium glutamate / Psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology / Obesity / Reproduction / Lactation /