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Some coronary artery anomalies are associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death and myocardial infarction in young patients. There are few data on the clinical and prognostic relevance of isolated origin of the left circumflex artery from the pulmonary artery, an extraordinarily rare variant of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that results in the death of dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra pars compacta and the reduction in dopaminergic control over striatal output neurons, leading to a movement disorder most commonly characterized by akinesia or bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor. Also, PD is less frequently depicted by sensory symptoms (pain and tingling), hyposmia, sleep alterations, depression and anxiety, and abnormal executive and working memory related functions. On the other hand, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is an endocrine, paracrine and autocrine hormone with several functions including tissue growth and development, insulin-like activity, proliferation, pro-survival, anti-aging, antioxidant and neuroprotection, among others. Herein this review tries to summarize all experimental and clinical data to understand the pathophysiology and development of PD, as well as its clear association with IGF-1, supported by several lines of evidence: (1) IGF-1 decreases with age, while aging is the major risk for PD establishment and development; (2) numerous basic and translational data have appointed direct protective and homeostasis IGF-1 roles in all brain cells; (3) estrogens seem to confer women strong protection to PD via IGF-1; and (4) clinical correlations in PD cohorts have confirmed elevated IGF-1 levels at the onset of the disease, suggesting an ongoing compensatory or “fight-to-injury” mechanism.

Se desarrolla una metodología para la clasificación y caracterización de perfiles de usuarios energéticos residenciales orientados a dirigir medidas específicas de eficiencia energética y energías renovables que permitan optimizar la utilización de recursos. Se utiliza como caso de estudio una base de datos de 395 encuestas relevadas en La Plata (Buenos Aires, Argentina), a partir de la cual se calcula la demanda de energía primaria de cada usuario, a quien se le clasifica en perfiles de consumo. Finalmente, se analizan variables/indicadores socio-demográficos y energéticos que permiten identificar aspectos críticos y plantear lineamientos específicos para el mejoramiento energético.

Objective: Determining the appropriate approach for delivery after previous cesarean is a very controversial issue. Our objective was to establish whether pregnant women with a previous cesarean have an increased maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality after attempting vaginal delivery as well as to determine which factors may influence the achievement of a vaginal birth after cesarean. Materials and methods: A retrospective observational cohort study including 390 patients (196 cesarean group and 194 nulliparous group) was carried out. We compared neonatal and maternal outcomes between groups. Afterward, a multivariate logistic regression was applied for our second objective. Results: There were higher rates of uterine rupture (2% vs. 0%, p: 0.045) and puerperal hemorrhage (9.7% vs. 3.1%, p: 0.008) in the cesarean group and lower vaginal delivery rate (58.2% vs. 77.8%, p < 0.0005). We found that the induced onset of labor (OR = 2.9) and new born weight (OR = 1.0001) were associated with an increased risk of cesarean section. Conclusions: Our findings stress the need for further investigations in this field, which might provide a basis for a better management of patients with a previous cesarean.

Monitoring shifts in vegetation composition over time is essential for tracking biodiversity changes and for designing ecosystem management strategies. In Australia, the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) provides a continent-wide network of monitoring sites (AusPlots) that can be used to assess the shifts in vegetation composition and structure of Australian Major Vegetation Groups (MVGs). Here we use time-series site data to quantify the extent and rate of MVG shifts between repeat visits and to recommend the most appropriate sampling frequency for specific MVGs. The research area spans a ~1,500 km latitudinal gradient within south/central Australia from arid rangelands in the north to Mediterranean vegetation in the south. The standardized AusPlots protocol was employed to repeatedly survey 103 one-hectare plots, assessed between 2011 and 2019. Floristic and growth form dissimilarities between visits were calculated with distance metrics and then regressed against survey interval. Multivariate ordination was used to explore temporal floristic shifts. Rank-dominance curves were used to display variations in species' importance. Between repeated visits, sites exhibited high variability for all vegetation parameters and trajectories. However, several trends emerged: (a) Species composition moved away from baseline linearly with intervals between surveys. (b) The rate of species turnover was approximately double in communities that are herbaceous versus woody-dominated. (c) Species abundances and growth forms shift at different speeds. All floristic and structural metrics shifted between re-visits, with varying magnitude and speed, but herbaceous-dominated plots showed higher floristic dynamism. Although the expanse, logistics, and the short time between visits constrained our analysis and interpretation, our results suggest that shorter revisit intervals may be appropriate for herbaceous compared to woody systems to track change most efficiently.

Resumen: Objetivo: Presentar, a los 22 meses de que la Organización Mundial de la Salud declarara como pandemia la infección global por SARS-CoV-2 el 11 de marzo de 2020, el impacto hasta el momento de la pandemia en términos de salud física y mental. Método: Se han revisado resultados procedentes de metaanálisis y revisiones sistemáticas, citándose para algún aspecto específico de interés artículos individuales. La información nacional procede de la Red Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica (RENAVE). Resultados: Hasta finales de octubre se habían producido más de 250 millones de infecciones y 5 millones de muertes. En España se han notificado 4,7 millones de infecciones, aunque la cifra real es superior a los 7 millones. Se ha reducido la esperanza de vida, con efectos especialmente dramáticos en grupos de población con comorbilidad y de edad avanzada. Se constata un empeoramiento de la salud mental general. Es previsible que algunos colectivos, como los/las profesionales sanitarios/as, en su mayoría mujeres, y trabajadores/as de primera línea, tengan un mayor riesgo de desarrollar patologías de salud mental en el futuro. La pandemia y las medidas de control han tenido otras consecuencias indeseables, como la disminución de la actividad asistencial, el aumento del sedentarismo y el aumento de la violencia de género. Conclusiones: Son necesarios estudios longitudinales para determinar la magnitud de las consecuencias de la propia infección y de las medidas de control y las actuaciones necesarias. Abstract: Objective: The World Health Organization declared the global SARS-CoV-2 infection a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The objective of this paper is to present its impact in terms of physical and mental health 22 months later. Method: We have reviewed results from published meta-analysis and systematic reviews, and some individual articles on specific aspects of special interest. National information on infection comes for the Red Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica (RENAVE). Results: Up to the end of October, more than 250 million infections and 5 million deaths had been reported globally. In Spain, 4.7 million infections have been documented although the real figure might be above 7 million. The pandemic has reduced life expectancy, and its effects have been especially dramatic in people with comorbidities and the elderly. There is a worsening of mental health in the general population. It is foreseeable that some groups, such as health professionals, mostly women, and front-line workers, may have a greater risk of developing mental health pathologies. The pandemic and the control measures have had other undesirable consequences such as a decrease in healthcare utilization, an increase in sedentary lifestyle or an increase in gender violence. In addition to its immediate effect on morbidity and mortality, the control measures have damaged the overall health status of the global population. Conclusions: Longitudinal studies are necessary to determine the mid and long consequences of the pandemic and the control measures, and to identify and evaluate effective health interventions.

Background: The septate uterus is the most common congenital uterine anomaly, and hysteroscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing it. The goal of this meta-analysis is to perform a pooled analysis of the diagnostic performance of two-dimensional transvaginal ultrasonography, two-dimensional transvaginal sonohysterography, three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound, and three-dimensional transvaginal sonohysterography for the diagnosis of the septate uterus. Methods: Studies published between 1990 and 2022 were searched in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. From 897 citations, we selected eighteen studies to include in this meta-analysis. Results: The mean prevalence of uterine septum in this meta-analysis was 27.8%. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were 83% and 99% for two-dimensional transvaginal ultrasonography (ten studies), 94% and 100% for two-dimensional transvaginal sonohysterography (eight studies), and 98% and 100% for three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound (seven articles), respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of three-dimensional transvaginal sonohysterography was only described in two studies, and we did not calculate the pooled sensitivity and specificity for this method. Conclusion: Three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound has the best performance capacity for the diagnosis of the septate uterus.

Endothelin (ET) is found to be increased in kidney disease secondary to hyperglycaemia, hypertension, acidosis, and the presence of insulin or proinflammatory cytokines. In this context, ET, via the endothelin receptor type A (ETA) activation, causes sustained vasoconstriction of the afferent arterioles that produces deleterious effects such as hyperfiltration, podocyte damage, proteinuria and, eventually, GFR decline. Therefore, endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) have been proposed as a therapeutic strategy to reduce proteinuria and slow the progression of kidney disease. Preclinical and clinical evidence has revealed that the administration of ERAs reduces kidney fibrosis, inflammation and proteinuria. Currently, the efficacy of many ERAs to treat kidney disease is being tested in randomized controlled trials; however, some of these, such as avosentan and atrasentan, were not commercialized due to the adverse events related to their use. Therefore, to take advantage of the protective properties of the ERAs, the use of ETA receptor-specific antagonists and/or combining them with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) has been proposed to prevent oedemas, the main ERAs-related deleterious effect. The use of a dual angiotensin-II type 1/endothelin receptor blocker (sparsentan) is also being evaluated to treat kidney disease. Here, we reviewed the main ERAs developed and the preclinical and clinical evidence of their kidney-protective effects. Additionally, we provided an overview of new strategies that have been proposed to integrate ERAs in kidney disease treatment.

Background: Diagnostic accuracy for estimating myometrial infiltration by ultrasound in endometrial cancer requires experience. The objective of this study is to determine the learning curve (LC) for assessing myometrial infiltration in cases of endometrial cancer using transvaginal ultrasound (TVS). Methods: Five trainees (one staff radiologist and four fourth-year OB/GYN residents) participated in this study. All trainees had experience in performing TVS, but none of them had specific training on the assessment of myometrial infiltration. Trainees were given one specific lecture about the topic, and then they observed videoclips from 10 cases explained by the trainer. After this, all trainees visualized 45 videoclips of uterine ultrasound scans of endometrial cancer cases. The assessment of myometrial infiltration was based on the subjective impression. Definitive histology was used as a reference standard. Trainees stated whether myometrial infiltration was ≥50% or

Background: In this work, the effect of a selected starter culture of Lactilactobacillus sakei 205 on the evolution of volatile compounds throughout the ripening process and on the final sensorial characteristics of traditional dry-cured fermented “salchichón” was evaluated. Methods: “Salchichón” sausages were prepared, inoculated with L. sakei 205, and ripened for 90 days. Volatile compounds were analyzed throughout the ripening by GC-MS. In the final product, instrumental texture and color were determined. In addition, sensorial analysis was performed by a semi-trained panel. Results: The inoculation of L. sakei 205 does not influence the texture and color parameters of ripened “salchichón”. However, an increase in volatile compounds derived from amino acid catabolism and microbial esterification and a decrease in compounds derived from lipid oxidation, mainly hexanal, were observed throughout the ripening time as a consequence of L. sakei inoculation, which could have a positive effect on the flavor development of the dry-cured fermented “salchichón”. Conclusions: The use of selected strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) such as L. sakei 205 as a protective culture could be recommended to improve the quality of traditional “salchichón”.

Seed microbiota is becoming an emergent area of research. Host plant microbial diversity is increasingly well described, yet relatively little is known about the stressors driving plant endomicrobiota at the metaorganism level. The present work examines the role of horizontal and vertical transmission of bacterial microbiota in response to abiotic stress generated by arsenic. Horizontal transmission is achieved by bioaugmentation with the endophyte Rhodococcus rhodochrous, while vertical transmission comes via maternal inheritance from seeds. To achieve this goal, all experiments were conducted with two Jasione species. J. montana is tolerant to arsenic (As), whereas J. sessiliflora, being phylogenetically close to J. montana, was not previously described as As tolerant. The Jasione core bacterial endophytes are composed of genera Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, Undibacterium, Cutibacterium, and Kocuria and family Comamanadaceae across different environmental conditions. All these operational taxonomic units (OTUs) coexisted from seeds to the development of the seedling, independently of As stress, or bioaugmentation treatment and Jasione species. R. rhodochrous colonized efficiently both species, driving the endomicrobiota structure of Jasione with a stronger effect than As stress. Despite the fact that most of the OTUs identified inside Jasione seeds and seedlings belonged to rare microbiota, they represent a large bacterial reservoir offering important physiological and ecological traits to the host. Jasione traits co-regulated with R. rhodochrous, and the associated microbiota improved the host response to As stress. NGS-Illumina tools provided further knowledge about the ecological and functional roles of plant endophytes.

La educación en sexualidad e igualdad es considerada un ámbito de investigación y formación complejo, aunque de necesario abordaje en los contextos educativos universitarios dedicados a la formación del profesorado. En este artículo presentamos los resultados cualitativos de una investigación llevada a cabo en la Universidad de Castilla-la Mancha (UCLM, España) en la que, por medio de entrevistas semiestructuradas y técnica Delphi a un total de 32 profesionales, hemos trabajado con el método biográfico-narrativo sobre las concepciones y competencias en sexualidad e igualdad del profesorado implicado en la formación inicial docente, para valorar cómo estas afectan a las tareas curriculares e investigadoras. Los resultados evidencian una serie de frenos y oportunidades institucionales en esta materia. Como conclusión, destacamos la necesidad de impulsar y fortalecer la implicación institucional para que desaparezcan, o se aminoren, las limitaciones identificadas.

The present paper showcases the work carried out as part of the seismic retrofit of the Ottoman fortress of Gjirokastra, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Albania. The need for strengthening and retrofitting the structure stems from the fact that it is situated in a region of high seismicity and showed signs of structural distress at the time of investigation. The hill on which the castle is built also has stability issues. The seismic retrofit focused on a damaged stone masonry tower of the fortress and was designed following a comprehensive methodology for the inspection, diagnosis and geotechnical and structural analyses. Through the use of non-destructive tests, the existing soil conditions, the material properties and composition and the dynamic behaviour of the tower were assessed. Nonlinear finite element analysis was used to establish the cause of the existing damage and to determine the most effective strengthening solutions. The findings of the investigation revealed potential causes of the observed damage as well as the need to carry out retrofitting works at the tower beyond ground improvement solutions to bring the performance of the structure up to the code-specified level. This paper highlights the importance of planning and coordination between all the relevant disciplines involved in the project, so that apt inspection and diagnostic tools can be used to fill in the gaps where information is missing and to design optimal and integrated structural interventions in historic structures. Satisfactory seismic performance can be obtained by using a combination of retrofitting techniques, which specifically target the weak elements identified via the analyses.

Treatments with sodium–glucose 2 cotransporter inhibitors (SGLT2i) or endothelin receptor antagonists (ERA) have shown cardiorenal protective effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the cardiorenal beneficial effects of the combination of SGLT2i and ERA on top of renin–angiotensin system (RAS) blockade. Type 2 diabetic mice (db/db) were treated with different combinations of an SGLT2i (empagliflozin), an ERA (atrasentan), and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ramipril) for 8 weeks. Vehicle-treated diabetic mice and non-diabetic mice were included as controls. Weight, blood glucose, blood pressure, and kidney and heart function were monitored during the study. Kidneys and heart were collected for histological examination and to study the intrarenal RAS. Treatment with empagliflozin alone or combined significantly decreased blood glucose compared to vehicle-treated db/db. The dual and triple therapies achieved significantly greater reductions in diastolic blood pressure than ramipril alone. Compared to vehicle-treated db/db, empagliflozin combined with ramipril or in triple therapy significantly prevented GFR increase, but only the triple combination exerted greater protection against podocyte loss. In the heart, empagliflozin alone or combined reduced cardiac isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) and left atrium (LA) diameter as compared to vehicle-treated db/db. However, only the triple therapy was able to reduce cardiomyocyte area. Importantly, the add-on triple therapy further enhanced the intrarenal ACE2/Ang(1-7)/Mas protective arm of the RAS. These data suggest that triple therapy with empagliflozin, atrasentan and ramipril show synergistic cardiorenal protective effects in a type 2 diabetic mouse model.

Our clinical series comprises 124 patients with movement disorders (MDs) and/or ataxia with cerebellar atrophy (CA), many of them showing signs of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA). Ten NBIA genes are accepted, although isolated cases compatible with abnormal brain iron deposits are known. The patients were evaluated using standardised clinical assessments of ataxia and MDs. First, NBIA genes were analysed by Sanger sequencing and 59 patients achieved a diagnosis, including the detection of the founder mutation PANK2 p.T528M in Romani people. Then, we used a custom panel MovDisord and/or exome sequencing; 29 cases were solved with a great genetic heterogeneity (34 different mutations in 23 genes). Three patients presented brain iron deposits with Fe-sensitive MRI sequences and mutations in FBXO7, GLB1, and KIF1A, suggesting an NBIA-like phenotype. Eleven patients showed very early-onset ataxia and CA with cortical hyperintensities caused by mutations in ITPR1, KIF1A, SPTBN2, PLA2G6, PMPCA, and PRDX3. The novel variants were investigated by structural modelling, luciferase analysis, transcript/minigenes studies, or immunofluorescence assays. Our findings expand the phenotypes and the genetics of MDs and ataxias with early-onset CA and cortical hyperintensities and highlight that the abnormal brain iron accumulation or early cerebellar gliosis may resembling an NBIA phenotype.

In traditional soft ripened cheeses made with raw milk, the use of protective cultures is infrequent. In the present work, the effect of selected (for their activity against Listeria monocytogenes) protective cultures of Lactocaseibacillus casei 116 and Lactococcus garvieae 151 was evaluated, on the evolution of volatile compounds throughout the ripening and on the final sensory characteristics of traditional soft ripened “Torta del Casar” cheese. For this, both strains were separately inoculated in raw cheeses and ripened for 90 days. The selected LAB strains did not affect physicochemical parameters, including texture and color of the ripened cheeses. However, they could have a positive effect on the aroma, for the generation of methyl branched acids and for the reduction in compounds derived from β-oxidation of fatty acids. Thus, these protective cultures, in addition to contributing to their safety, could improve quality of the ripened cheeses.

Background. The genus Agave has social, cultural, environmental and economic importance in Mexico. Approximately 15 species of agave are used as raw material for the production of mezcal, among them is the Agave marmorata Roelz, which is considered the longest-lived agave for the preparation of this drink because its maturation period ranges from 20 to 35 years. Agave plant tissue culture is a technique that allows obtaining plants by organogenesis (O) and / or somatic embryogenesis (ES) in a short period of time. The quality and quantity of plants propagated by these methods can be favored with the use of Temporary Immersion Systems (SIT). Objective. Establish a protocol for the regeneration of A. marmorata seedlings in SIT, with the methods of direct organogenesis and indirect somatic embryogenesis. Methodology. Two regeneration methods, direct organogenesis and indirect somatic embryogenesis, were evaluated. For the first, the effect of the frequency and number of explants grown in SIT in the sprouting and growth stages of the explant was determined. For the second, the effect of the number of explants grown in SIT on the percentage of germination and the growth rate of somatic embryos was evaluated. Results. The best treatment in the sprouting stage was obtained with 80 explants grown in SIT with an immersion frequency of 8 h and an immersion time of 2 min, with 84% sprouting and 17.5 sprouts / explant of 1 cm in height. The best growth of the explants originated from direct organogenesis was obtained with 180 cultured explants per flask with an immersion frequency of 8 hours and an immersion time of 2 min. On the other hand, in the somatic embryogenesis method, the highest percentage of embryo germination (62.2%) was achieved with 80 somatic embryos cultured in SIT with an immersion frequency of 8 hours. Implications. The results of this research contribute to a better understanding of the regeneration process of direct organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis in temporary immersion systems. This can help to scale the system commercially and to conserve germplasm. Conclusions. It was possible to establish an effective protocol for the regeneration of agave seedlings.

La Educación Social en España se ha definido como una profesión dedicada a la práctica e investigación en el ámbito social. Esta doble capacidad, sin embargo, se refleja de una manera desigual en la capacitación universitaria de futuros educadores y educadoras sociales. Investigaciones previas muestran que los profesionales de la Educación Social consideran importante contar con herramientas de investigación para el ejercicio de la profesión, aunque siguen definiendo su labor más práctica que investigadora. Esta concepción es compartida con quienes inician sus estudios, manifestando dificultades para reconocer la adecuación de las asignaturas de investigación en su curriculum formativo. Por este motivo, en este artículo se propone una experiencia didáctico-metodológica que, mediante el aprendizaje práctico y colaborativo de técnicas de investigación, análisis de datos y transferencia del conocimiento, busque aumentar la capacitación en metodologías y técnicas de investigación entre el alumnado de Educación Social en España. Los datos de evaluación de la experiencia han sido recogidos mediante la técnica DAFO realizada por el profesorado y alumnado de la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha. Se parte de los antecedentes didácticos del Grado de Educación Social para exponer las características de la experiencia innovadora y finalizar presentando el análisis y potencialidades de esta. Los principales resultados obtenidos señalan la idoneidad de esta propuesta para mejorar la formación en investigación en Educación Social, destacando el aprendizaje experiencial y los beneficios de las TIC entre otros. Con todo ello se busca poner de manifiesto la posibilidad de repensar y transformar nuestras prácticas docentes universitarias.

Este trabajo presenta el desarrollo metodológico para la construcción de escenarios urbano energéticos de largo plazo (2014-2040) a partir de la implementación de estrategias de eficiencia energética y energías renovables. Dichos escenarios consideran tanto la oferta como la demanda de energía, focalizando sobre el sector residencial y en las diferencias intra-urbanas que este presenta. Se utiliza como caso de estudio la ciudad de La Plata (Argentina). Se exponen los aspectos teórico-conceptuales, los métodos, técnicas, procedimientos, variables e hipótesis necesarias para su desarrollo a los efectos de que la presente metodología pueda ser replicada en otros casos de estudio.

Resumen Introducción Una de las técnicas más extendidas para tratar la recidiva del síndrome del túnel del carpo (STC), es la interposición de un colgajo de almohadilla grasa hipotenar vascularizada (técnica de Strickland). Esa técnica es la empleada por la Unidad de Cirugía de Muñeca y Mano del Servicio de Traumatología del Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias. El objetivo de este estudio, es revisar los pacientes intervenidos de recidiva del STC en dicha unidad mediante esa técnica, y comprobar su evolución a medio y largo plazo. Material y Método En este trabajo se lleva a cabo un estudio retrospectivo de tipo descriptivo. La población estudiada es la muestra de pacientes operados mediante la técnica de Strickland, para la recidiva del STC, intervenidos entre el 2010 y el 2017, habiendo pasado un mínimo de 6 meses desde esa última intervención. Conclusión Pese a las limitaciones de este estudio, los datos avalan que se obtiene mejoría objetiva y subjetiva en un número elevado de pacientes con STC recidivado: al menos el 50% de los pacientes intervenidos se encuentran satisfechos; siendo bajo el índice de complicaciones.

AIM: To estimate and compare the frequency of accommodative insufficiency (AI) within the same clinical population sample depending on the type of clinical criteria used for diagnosis. Comparing the frequency within the same population would help to minimize bias due to sampling or methodological variability. METHODS: Retrospective study of 205 medical records of symptomatic subjects free of any organic cause and symptoms persisting despite optical compensation evaluated. Based on the most commonly clinical diagnostics criteria found in the literature, four diagnostics criteria were established for AI (I, II, III and IV) based on subjective accommodative tests: monocular accommodative amplitude two or more diopters below Hofstetter’s minimum value [15-(0.25×age)] (I, II, III, IV); failing monocular accommodative facility with minus lens, establishing the cut-off in 0 cycles per minute (cpm) (I) and in 6 cpm (II, III); failing binocular accommodative facility with minus lens, establishing the cut-off in 0 cpm (I) and in 3 cpm (II). RESULTS: The proportion of AI (95%CI) for criteria I, II, III and IV were 1.95% (0.04%-3.86%), 2.93% (0.31%-4.57%), 6.34% (1.90%-7.85%) and 41.95% (35.14%-48.76%) respectively, with a statistically significant difference shown between these values (χ2=226.7, P

El fi principal d’aquesta proposta didàctica és promoure una forma d’educar en el gust per la lectura, coneguda com animació a la lectura. Comcretament, s’utilitza el mètode de Montserrat Sarto (Sarto, 1984, 1998), basat en tres objectius: apropar els joves a lectures que puguin comprendre, procurar que els estudiants gaudeixin amb la lectura i fomentar la reflexió sobre el que s’ha llegit. En aquesta línia, s’elabora una programació d’animació a la lectura dirigida a l’alumnat de sisè curs d’Educació Primària d’un centre educatiu de Segòvia. Aquesta proposta s’elabora a partir de les estratègies extretes de publicacions de referència (Sarto, 1984, 1998). Com a resultat, els participants d’aquesta experiència puntual, a més de mostrar interès per la lectura, han manifestat ganes per a millorar la seva comprensió lectora i per continuar aprenent amb aquest mètode. En conclusió, s’ha aconseguit el principal, a més dels tres objectius que proposa el mètode d’animació utilitzat, cosa que posa de manifest que la proposta atrau l’atenció dels joves, promovent un apropament positiu a la lectura.

Textos de varios autores en memoria de Francisco Javier Peñas Esteban.

Ethanol use during pregnancy is a risk factor for developing adverse outcomes. Its metabolism by cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) produces radical oxygen species (ROS), promoting cellular injury and apoptosis. To date, no studies have been conducted to elucidate the teratogenic effects due to both IGF-1 deficiency and ethanol consumption in mice placentas. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of ethanol consumption on the placenta and liver of partially IGF-1-deficient mice, the role of metabolism via CYP2E1, and the antioxidant enzyme system. Heterozygous (HZ, Igf1+/−) pregnant female mice were given water or 10% ethanol. Wild-type (WT, Igf1+/+) female mice were used as controls. At gestational day 19, pregnant dams were euthanized, and maternal liver and placentas were collected. Pregnant HZ dams were smaller than controls, and this effect was higher due to ethanol consumption. Cyp2e1 gene was overexpressed in the liver of HZ pregnant dams exposed to ethanol; at the protein level, CYP2E1 is reduced in placentas from all genotypes. The antioxidant enzymatic system was altered by ethanol consumption in both the maternal liver and placenta. The results in this work hint that IGF-1 is involved in intrauterine development because its deficiency exacerbates ethanol’s effects on both metabolism and the placenta.

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are G-protein-coupled receptors that exhibit enormous diversity in their expression patterns, sequence homology, pharmacology, biophysical properties and signaling pathways in the brain. In general, mGluRs modulate different traits of neuronal physiology, including excitability and plasticity processes. Particularly, group I mGluRs located at the pre- or postsynaptic compartments are involved in spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) at hippocampal and neocortical synapses. Their roles of participating in the underlying mechanisms for detection of activity coincidence in STDP induction are debated, and diverse findings support models involving mGluRs in STDP forms in which NMDARs do not operate as classical postsynaptic coincidence detectors. Here, we briefly review the involvement of group I mGluRs in STDP and their possible role as coincidence detectors.

A study of energy supply alternatives was carried out based on a cogeneration fuel cell system fed from the natural gas network of compact Mediterranean cities. As a case study it was applied to the residential energy demands of the L’Illa Perduda neighbourhood, located in the east of the city of Valencia and consisting of 4194 residential cells. In total, eight different alternatives were studied according to the load curve, the power of the system, the mode of operation and the distribution of the fuel cells. In this way, the advantages and disadvantages of each configuration were found. This information, together with the previous study of the energy characteristics of the neighbourhood, enabled selection of the most promising configuration and to decide whether or not to recommend investment. The chosen configuration was a centralised system of phosphoric acid fuel cells in cogeneration, with approximately 4 MW of thermal power and an operating mode that varied according to the outside temperature. In this way, when heating is required, the plant adjusts its production to the thermal demand, and when cooling is required, the plant follows the electrical demand. This configuration presented the best energy results, as it achieved good coverage of thermal (62.5%) and electrical (88.1%) demands with good primary energy savings (28.36 GWh/year). However, due to the high power of the system and low maturity (i.e., high costs) of this technology, would be necessary to make a large initial economic investment of 15.2 M€.

Plant traits such as phenological development, growth rate, stress tolerance and seeds production may play an important role in the process of acclimatisation to new environments for introduced plants. Experiments that distinguish phenotypic plasticity from ecotypic differentiation would allow an understanding of the role of plant traits in the invasion process. We quantified the variation in phenological and overall performance traits associated with the invasion process for three herbaceous species native to Spain and invasive to Chile (Trifolium glomeratum, Hypochaeris glabra and Leontodon saxatilis). We grew plants from native and exotic populations along rainfall gradients in outdoor common gardens, located in the native and the introduced ranges and measured plant survival, phenology (days to flowering), biomass and seed output. Days to flowering was positively correlated with precipitation of the origin population for T. glomeratum and the native populations of H. glabra, but this pattern was not adaptive, as it was not associated with an increase in performance traits of these species. Phenology may instead reflect ecotypic differentiation to the environmental conditions of the original populations. Comparison between ranges (i.e. performance in both common gardens) was only possible for L. saxatilis. This species showed little variation in phenology and both native and exotic populations had higher fitness in the introduced range. This suggests that plasticity enhances invasiveness through increased propagule pressure in the novel environment. Our findings highlight the utility of common garden experiments in examining patterns of phenological and performance traits that relate to species invasiveness.

The increasing prevalence of AF in a growing population of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) poses new challenges to clinicians involved in the management of these patients. Distinctive underlying anatomies, unique physiological aspects, a high diversity of corrective surgeries and associated comorbidities can complicate clinical decision-making. In this review, the authors provide an overview of the current knowledge on epidemiology and pathophysiology, with a special focus on the differences to the non-CHD population and the clinical impact of AF in adults with CHD. Acute and long-term management strategies are summarised, including the use of antiarrhythmic drugs, catheter or surgical ablation and prophylaxis of thromboembolism. Finally, gaps of knowledge and potential areas of future research are highlighted.

Infrared (IR) thermography is a tool to non-invasively assess the tear film temperature. The aim was to analyze ocular surface temperature (OST) variations in dry eye disease (DED) and control eyes under natural non-controlled blinking conditions. Imaging was performed with a thermal camera (FLIR Systems Inc.) at 30 Hz framerate in 79 participants (39 DED (62.5% women, average age 48 ± 20 years) and 40 control (46.2 % women, average age 38 ± 13 years)) using non-contact IR thermography camera. Data acquisitions were performed in natural blinking conditions for 40 s. IR images were analyzed using a custom algorithm that calculates the OST indexes: mean OST, OST at the start and at the end, minimum and maximum OST, and tear evaporation rate (TER). No significant differences were found between groups in any thermal parameter analyzed (paired comparisons t-test, p > 0.05). In conclusion, the findings of this study did not reveal significant differences between DED and control eyes under natural non-controlled blinking conditions. However, the presence of clinical signs in the control group may affect the results, highlighting the role of DED diagnosis criteria.

The endogenous protease furin is a key protein in many different diseases, such as cancer and infections. For this reason, a wide range of studies has focused on targeting furin from a therapeutic point of view. Our main objective consisted of identifying new compounds that could enlarge the furin inhibitor arsenal; secondarily, we assayed their adjuvant effect in combination with a known furin inhibitor, CMK, which avoids the SARS-CoV-2 S protein cleavage by means of that inhibition. Virtual screening was carried out to identify potential furin inhibitors. The inhibition of physiological and purified recombinant furin by screening selected compounds, Clexane, and these drugs in combination with CMK was assayed in fluorogenic tests by using a specific furin substrate. The effects of the selected inhibitors from virtual screening on cell viability (293T HEK cell line) were assayed by means of flow cytometry. Through virtual screening, Zeaxanthin and Kukoamine A were selected as the main potential furin inhibitors. In fluorogenic assays, these two compounds and Clexane inhibited both physiological and recombinant furin in a dose-dependent way. In addition, these compounds increased physiological furin inhibition by CMK, showing an adjuvant effect. In conclusion, we identified Kukoamine A, Zeaxanthin, and Clexane as new furin inhibitors. In addition, these drugs were able to increase furin inhibition by CMK, so they could also increase its efficiency when avoiding S protein proteolysis, which is essential for SARS-CoV-2 cell infection.