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Glomus cubense (Glomeraceae, Glomeromycetes) was isolated from a lagoon vegetation area on a clay soil deposition environment in the vicinity of San José de las Lajas, Cuba. The species description is based on spore morphological parameters from in vivo pot cultures and molecular analyses. The new species is characterized by its small, generally irregular in shape, 20-48 × (24–)54-72 μm hyaline to faintly yellow spores that have a 2-layered spore wall and arise in clusters. Phylogenetic analyses of the rDNA ITS region and H+ATPase place the species into the Glomeraceae without close relatives among named Glomus species. Glomus cubense forms mycorrhizal associations with sorghum and leek plants under greenhouse pot-culture growing conditions and with a diversity of crop plants under field conditions. The name cubense refers to Cuba, the country where the species was found.

Background The importance of human factors/ergonomics (HFE) is well established in all high-reliability systems but only applied in the healthcare sector relatively recently. Across many sectors, low-/middle-income countries (LMICs) lag behind more economically developed countries in their application of this safety science, due to resource and, in some cases, awareness and expertise. Most previous applications of HFE related to occupational ergonomics rather than healthcare safety. Methods The paper details how the reputation of HFE is being developed within healthcare communities of Latin America (LatAm), through increasing awareness and understanding of its role as safety science in the healthcare sector. It starts by articulating the need for HFE and then provides examples from Mexico, Colombia and Peru. Results The practical examples for research and education illustrate a developing awareness of the relevance of HFE to the healthcare sectors in LatAm and an appreciation of its worth to improve health service quality and patient safety through healthcare community engagement. A new LatAm Network of HFE in Healthcare Systems (RELAESA) was formed in 2019, which has provided a platform for HFE advice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion There is a real opportunity in LatAm and other LMIC health services to make more rapid and sustainable progress in healthcare-embedded HFE than has been experienced within healthcare services of more developed nations.

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Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine how the fatty acid composition of plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids is influenced by the diabetic condition and by dietary or glibenclamide treatment in type 2 diabetes. Methods: The fatty acid composition of plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids is assessed in 3 nonobese groups of Cuban diabetics with comparable age and BMI: 13 newly diagnosed, 15 on diet alone and 15 on diet/glibenclamide. Thirteen healthy individuals were used as controls. Fasting serum glucose, insulin and glycosylated hemoglobin and dietary fat intake were assessed. Results: In plasma phospholipids, significant lower values were found for 14:0, 15:0 and 17:0 in newly diagnosed patients than in controls. In red blood cell phospholipids, 14:1, 20:0 and 24:1 of newly diagnosed patients were significantly lower than of controls, and 16:1ω7 and 18:4ω3 were significantly higher. The different treatments had an effect on 18:0, 18:1t, 20:0 and total trans fatty acids in erythrocyte, but not in plasma phospholipids. Conclusions: Changes in plasma phospholipid fatty acids found in type 2 diabetics may be due to an ‘adapted’ dietary pattern, whereas those in erythrocyte phospholipids may be attributed to effects of the disease itself and may be susceptible to normalization by diet or glibenclamide.

A practical method for non-experts in assessing exposure to risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) is presented. Evaluación del Riesgo Individual (Individual Risk Assessment) (ERIN) is based on available ergonomic tools, epidemiological evidence and the joint IEA-WHO project for developing WMSDs risk management in developing countries. ERIN focuses primarily on the interaction of some physical workplace factors but also includes the workers’ assessment. A scoring system has been proposed to indicate the level of intervention required to reduce the risk of injury. A worksheet has also been designed for increasing the usability of the method. Preliminary tests show that it is easy and quick to use, but further work is needed to establish its reliability and validity. The use of ERIN can contribute to the prevention of WMSDs in Cuba and other developing countries.