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Experiencing an increasing incidence, chronic heart failure (CHF) demands effective prevention and treatment. Aerobic exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation plays a vital role in managing these patients. However, diverse patient responses underscore the need for precision in intensity prescription. Heart rate variability (HRV), specifically the DFA a1 index, emerges as a cost-effective biomarker for exercise intensity distribution (Rogers et al., 2021a). Previous associations between HRV and ventilatory thresholds in CHF patients suggest its potential utility (Rogers et al., 2021b). This study aims to evaluate the agreement between ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2) and HRV thresholds (HRVT1 and HRVT2) in male and female CHF patients during a cardiopulmonary exercise test. Seventeen males and ten females performed a symptom-limited incremental ramp test on a cycle ergometer. Ventilatory thresholds were determined using a mixed method, and HRV thresholds were calculated using DFA a1 values of 0.75 and 0.5 as the first and second thresholds, respectively. Statistical measures, including the Pearson’s r correlation coefficient, determination coefficient, and Bland-Altman plot with limits of agreement (LoAs), were employed to evaluate the agreement between these methods. Initial findings indicate that HRVT1 shows a non-significant, low positive correlation (r = .36) with VT1, with a determination coefficient of .13, and a mean bias of -5 bpm (LoAs from -35 to 25 bpm). Conversely, HRVT2 demonstrates a significant, strong positive correlation with VT2 (r = .78), presenting a determination coefficient of .62 and a mean bias of 6 bpm (LoAs from -16 to 28 bpm). This suggests promising potential validity for HRVT2 in estimating ventilatory thresholds. In conclusion, while HRVT1 requires further investigation in this population and caution is advised in its application, HRVT2 emerges as a compelling candidate, demonstrating good agreement with VT2 and suggesting its potential validity as a valuable tool for exercise intensity determination in CHF patients.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), known for its pivotal role in neuroplasticity, has emerged as a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for chronic heart failure (CHF). BDNF, through its interaction with the tropomyosin-related kinase receptor B (TrkB), has been linked with the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, and hypertension. Patients with CHF exhibit diminished BDNF levels compared to their healthy counterparts. Notably, exercise has been shown to elevate BDNF levels in healthy individuals. However, no study has explored the potential effects of acute exercise on BDNF levels in patients with CHF. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to analyse the acute effect of aerobic exercise on BDNF levels in patients with CHF. Additionally, we investigated the influence of different patient characteristics (e.g., age, weight, and cardiorespiratory fitness) and exercise variables (e.g., duration) on BDNF concentrations. Eleven patients (53.2 ± 5.5 years; seven males) with CHF were finally included. BDNF levels were measured before and immediately after a cardiopulmonary exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Paired t-test, mean change with its 95% confidence interval (CI), and Pearson correlation were used to conduct statistical analyses. Moreover, Mann-Whitney U test was used to carry out between-group comparisons (e.g., sex) in changes in BDNF. Correlations were interpreted as weak (< 0.30), low (0.30 – 0.49), moderate (0.50 – 0.69), strong (0.70 – 0.89), or very strong (> 0.90). The findings showed a statistically significant increase (p = .005) in BDNF levels of 320.7 (CI = 136.4, 505.1) pg·ml-1. No differences were found between male and female patients (p = .269). Moreover, a moderate yet non-significant negative correlation was observed between the acute exercise-induced effect on BDNF levels and patients’ weight (r = –0.593; p = .054) and body mass index (BMI) (r = –0.530; p = .094). Aerobic exercise acutely increases BDNF levels in male and female patients with CHF. Further studies are required to determine the influence of patient characteristics (i.e., weight and BMI).

Las reticencias vacunales frente a COVID-19 en España han ido evolucionando de un 32 a un 10%, causando que España sea uno de los países con mayores tasas de vacunación sin ser obligatoria. De febrero a mayo del 2022 se observó un levantamiento de restricciones y uso de medidas no farmacológicas, dejándose de exigir también el certificado digital, no obstante, una parte de la población continuó iniciando la vacunación frente al COVID-19. El objetivo es evaluar las causas que conducen a la vacunación en las personas vacunadas de forma tardía.

Firm managers play an important role in the implementation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions. Education is emerging as the key factor in developing a sense of moral responsibility amongst the business students who will eventually become company managers and decision makers. The aim of this research is, thus, twofold. First, to analyze the existence of a direct positive correlation between university students’ perception of CSR and its impact on business performance; and second, to examine the extent to which two factors (advantages brought by CSR and responsibilities toward stakeholders) act as mediation variables in the aforementioned correlation. The analysis was performed with a sample of 390 business‐related university students. Amongst the potential contributions made by this study we can highlight the possibility of knowing future managers’ way of thinking and of knowing the aspects where educational centers might improve their CSR teaching.

Actualmente, la gran oferta de bebidas no alcohólicas se agrupa en refrescantes, deportivas y energéticas, todas ellas con un alto contenido en azúcares y su conocido riesgo de obesidad. Cada vez es más frecuente su consumo y en circunstancias no recomendables, con un elevado riesgo sobre la salud. El consumo real de bebidas deportivas y de energéticas no es bien conocido.

La hipertensión arterial es una de las enfermedades más prevalentes en la población general adulta. Su importancia reside en las complicaciones que ocasiona en el lecho vascular de órganos diana como riñón, corazón, cerebro y ojo. El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar la concordancia en la lectura e interpretación de retinografías de pacientes hipertensos realizads por médicos de familia y por oftalmólogos.

La muerte forma parte de la vida. La conciencia de que la muerte es inevitable puede causar trastornos mentales.

La pandemia mundial por SARS-CoV-2 ha ocasionado un gran impacto en la vida de los adolescentes afectando el bienestar infanto-juvenil, sin embargo, existe escasa evidencia del efecto que ha tenido a nivel emocional en esta población.