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This report describes the safe and effective handling under anesthesia, blood collection and main clinical pathology values determination for three adult Spotted Ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei) (two males and one female) successfully maintained under human care for more than 20 years. The anesthetic MS-222 diluted in tamponed salt water at 50 ppm provided deep narcosis with mean induction and recovery times of 5 and 20 min, allowing safe handling and blood collection in the three animals sampled. Major leukocyte types were similar to other teleost and elasmobranch species, identifying lymphocytes as the predominant leukocyte (75.5%), followed by the fine eosinophilic granulocytes (10.25%), the coarse eosinophilic granulocytes (9.75%), and a small percentage of monocytes (5.50%). Plasma biochemistry values in this species were like those seen in elasmobranchs, with the highest levels of blood urea nitrogen described in any Chondrichthyes (mean 679.7 mmol/l). Plasma protein electrophoresis analysis in the Spotted Ratfish showed five consistent fractions, like those previously described in other fish species, with a negligible quantity of proteins migrating in the region equivalent to albumin, and with fraction 4 (mean 53.20%) as the predominant fraction. Despite the limitations imposed by the small sample size and the challenging access to the studied species under human care, this study will shed light on and enhance clinical knowledge regarding Ratfish handling, anesthesia, blood collection, and analysis. It aims to deliver a comprehensive clinical pathology description, presenting valuable data for professionals engaged in the care and management of Chimaerans.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed today and the third leading cause of death among cancer types. CRC is one of the gastrointestinal tumors with obesity as the main extrinsic risk factor, since, according to authors, the meta-inflammation sustained by the excess adipose tissue can provide abundant circulating lipids, as well as hormones and metabolites crucial to tumor development and aggressiveness. The gut microbiota can protect the colon from meta-inflammation and endocrine changes caused by obesity. The present study aimed to investigate the antitumor activity of a commercial probiotic in intestinal tumor cells under two adiposity conditions. Experimental assays were performed on the Caco2 cell line (colon adenocarcinoma) supplemented with differentiated adipocyte’s secretomes of the 3T3-L1 cell line (mouse pre-adipocytes) in two adiposity conditions: (i) differentiation without the use of Pioglitazone (noPGZ) and (ii) differentiation using Pioglitazone (PGZ). The Caco2 cells were first exposed to both secretomes for 24 h and evaluated and subsequently exposed to probiotic extract followed by secretome and evaluated. The effects of these treatments were evaluated using cytotoxicity assays by MTT, cell migration by injury, and antioxidant activity by glutathione assay. The use of secretomes showed a statistically significant increase in cell viability in Caco2 cells, either in noPGZ (p < 0.01) or PGZ (p < 0.05), and the probiotic was not able to reduce this effect. In the injury assay, secretome increased cell migration by more than 199% in both adiposity conditions (p < 0.001 in noPGZ and p < 0.01 in PGZ). In the probiotic treatment, there was a reduction in cell migration compared to the control in adiposity conditions. The antioxidant response of Caco2 cells was increased in both adiposity conditions previously exposed to the probiotic supernatant. This pilot work brings to light some findings that may answer why the modulation of the intestinal microbiota using probiotics is an alternative strategy leading to improvements in the condition and stage of the colon tumor. Additional studies are needed to clarify the role of Pioglitazone in this type of tumor and the metabolites of obesity that are attenuated by the use of probiotics.

Healthcare workers are exposed to workplace violence such as physical assaults, psychological violence and threats of violence. It is crucial to understand factors associated with workplace violence to prevent and mitigate its consequences. This study aims to identify work-related factors that might influence workplace violence in healthcare settings. A cross-sectional study was developed between March and April of 2022 with healthcare workers. The Aggression and Violence at Work Scale was used to assess workplace violence, and psychosocial risks were assessed through the Health and Work Survey—INSAT. Statistical analysis using bivariate analysis was performed to identify the psychosocial risk factors related to physical violence, psychological violence and vicarious violence. Subsequently, a multiple linear regression was performed to identify the models that better explained the relationship between psychosocial risk factors and the three dimensions of violence. Psychological violence was frequently experienced by the healthcare workers. Significant associations were found between psychosocial risk factors and physical, psychological and vicarious violence, namely working hours, work relationships, employment relations, high demands and work intensity. These findings highlight the importance of taking into consideration work-related factors when designing interventions to prevent and address workplace violence in healthcare settings.

Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is a Gram-positive anaerobic facultative bacterium that is part of the human skin commensal microbiome. It colonizes various regions of the body, including the face, back, and chest. While typically a harmless commensal, under certain conditions, C. acnes can become pathogenic, leading to or promoting conditions such as acne vulgaris (AV), post-surgical infections, prostate cancer, and sarcoidosis. Current treatments for C. acnes infections often involve antibiotics, but the rise of antibiotic resistance has raised concerns. This review presents the virulence factors, clinical relevance, and current treatments of C. acnes, highlighting its association with AV, post-surgical infections, and other diseases. It also explores alternative innovative therapies such as phage therapy in development/research that are gaining prominence, with a growing focus on personalized medical approaches. To enhance C. acnes treatment while minimizing side effects and antibiotic prescription concerns, numerous clinical studies have been undertaken. These investigations span various pathological profiles and employ diverse strategies, such as utilizing bacterial extracts and compounds to restore healthy skin flora. The limitations and challenges of current and innovative treatments are also addressed, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary strategies to combat C. acnes infections effectively.

The objective of this work is to evaluate the influence of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) in the behavior of breast cell lines (epithelial and tumor type) and related oxidative metabolism. Fruit-based functional foods have been the target of increasing scientific research for their physiological and pathophysiological properties. Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a suitable example with both prophylactic and medicinal effects. MCF-7 cell line from tumor breast carcinoma, and MCF-10A cell line from normal epithelial mammary gland were used and subjected to different concentrations of PPE, ranging from 1 to 5 mM of gallic acid equivalents (GAE). Viability, proliferation, mobility, and cytotoxicity assays were performed along with the quantification of antioxidant enzymes, namely, catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione. We observed a decrease in viability and proliferation of MCF-7 cells, at higher concentrations of PPE, with no influence in epithelial cells. Interestingly, in a concentration-dependent manner, PPE triggered a significant decrease in migration on both cell lines, with a more pronounced effect in breast cancer cell line. Regarding antioxidant enzyme activity, on tumor cells higher concentrations of PPE decreased catalase activity and significantly increased SOD activity. Regarding GSH and GSSG, we observed different expression levels between MCF-7 and MCF-10A, with MCF-7 presenting lower levels compared to MCF-10A. GSH/GSSG ratio was notably higher in MCF-7 at 5 mM GAE. PPE exhibits anti-tumor effects without significantly affecting normal epithelial cells. Our work strengthens the potential antitumoral effect of PPE by reducing MCF-7 cell viability and proliferation through the imbalance of antioxidant enzymes.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1) is an opportunistic pathogen, lethal in immunocompromised individuals. The clinical management of PAO1 infections still depends deeply on antibiotic therapy. However, this therapy has been alarmingly overpowered by growing bacterial resistance mechanisms over the years. One of these bacterial mechanisms is quorum sensing (QS). QS is involved in the production of biofilm, rhamnolipids and pyocyanin, among other factors. The present study aimed to study the effect of the mutations in the genes of rubredoxin (Rub A1 and Rub A2) and glutaredoxin (GLRx) in the production of virulence traits and susceptibility of PAO1 to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) and to infection by a phage cocktail. Rub A1, Rub A2, and GLRx showed a decrease in the expression of genes lasI, lasR, mvfR, and rpsL when compared to the wild type, PAO1. Rub A1 and Rub A2 also showed a decrease in the expression of the gene pqsA, while the mutant GLRx showed an increase of over 200% in expression compared to PAO1. The biofilm produced by the mutants Rub A1, Rub A2, and GLRx increased more than 1.5 times in comparison to PAO1, with statistical significance (p < 0.0001). In the viability assay, the mutant strain Rub A2 was the most susceptible to ciprofloxacin in both concentrations tested (p < 0.0001). The production of proteases increased in the mutant strains when compared to PAO1 (p < 0.05). However, there was a decrease in the production of rhamnolipids and pyocyanins in the mutant strains. In the phage assay, we could perceive a reduction in the growth of the mutant strains when compared to PAO1. Additionally, after the addition of the phages, all the strains showed susceptibility to the phage assay (p < 0.0001), observed in the decrease in the absorbance values. These results may highlight the relevance of the genes Rub A1, Rub A2, and GLRX in the proliferation and treatment of infections with PAO1. Overall, this study gives preliminary insights into how gene expression may be helpful in strategies to overcome antibiotic resistance.

Aptamers are short, single-stranded oligonucleotides synthesized in vitro from a randomized oligonucleotide library against a specific target. These molecules are capable of binding to a wide range of biological targets with high specificity and affinity. They present great advantages over antibodies with potential applications in research, diagnosis, and therapeutics. Specifically for tumors with late-stage identification and poor prognosis, like pancreatic cancer, the study of novel aptamers holds tremendous potential for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Along with cancer treatment, aptamers have also shown high potential in regulating the immune response and modulating several critical steps of signaling cascades, such as in immune checkpoints. In the context of microbiota and infection, aptamers are being studied to identify microbes and their metabolites. This assessment has the potential to improve the detection and management of infectious diseases while assisting us in better understanding health risks and treatment outcomes by tracking changes in the microbiota. In this review, the potential of aptamers is explored regarding their applications in cancer, immune, and microbiota therapy.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have garnered attention as a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics due to their innovative antibacterial properties. This study demonstrates the successful production of biosynthetic gold nanoparticles (bAuNPs) using Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) as spherical nanostructures at 58 °C for 24 h, under alkaline pH (9.0). The successful synthesis of bAuNPs was confirmed through UV-Vis spectroscopy, exhibiting a characteristic peak within the 500–600 nm wavelength range, and the evaluation of the main functional groups and morphology were stressed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), respectively. Subsequently, the synthesized bAuNPs were combined with low concentrations of ampicillin and evaluated against Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) through the classical serial dilution method. This innovative approach holds the potential to address the escalating issue of antibiotic resistance, providing a viable and sustainable solution.

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the bacteria that cause serious infections due to resistance to many antibiotics can be fatal in severe cases. Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health concern. To solve this problem, interest in phage therapy has revived; some studies are being developed to try to prove the effectiveness of this therapy. Thus, in this opinion article, several historical aspects are addressed as well some applications of phage therapy against P. aeruginosa.

Otolith microstructure analysis is a valuable tool to evaluate the relationship between larval age and growth and how it relates to environmental variability. Otolith growth and daily increment deposition were analyzed in sardine (Sardina pilchardus) larvae reared in the laboratory under different temperatures (13, 15, and 17 °C), with a diet rich in microalgae, rotifers, and copepods Acartia grani. The number and width of growth increments, first-check and otolith diameter were determined in the otoliths and then related to larval age and total length. At hatching, the sagittal otoliths consisted of a lenticular core with a diameter of 10.56 μm (±1.07 μm SD). Somatic growth increased with the increasing temperature and the growth rate of larvae reared at 13 and 15 °C was significantly lower than for larvae reared at 17 °C. At 17 °C, otoliths exhibited a higher diameter with wider increments than at 13 °C. There was a high variability of increment counts-at-age for larvae reared within the same temperature treatment. The increase of growth increments with larval size was higher for larvae reared at 17 °C until 35 days post-hatching than those growing at 15 °C. Scanning electronic microscopy confirmed that increments are deposited daily, with an average width smaller than 1 µm and as low as 0.33 μm, therefore impossible to distinguish using light microscopy. At colder temperatures, larval otoliths had thinner and less marked increments and lower growth rates, which can lead to incorrect age determinations. The effect of temperature on the otolith microstructure can help in identifying strong temperature gradients experienced by wild sardine larvae.

A propòsit del quarantè aniversari de Documents d’Anàlisi Geogràfica (DAG) (1982- 2022), i considerant la unificació de les tres sèries anteriors —Documents d’Anàlisi Urbana, Documents d’Anàlisi Territorial i Documents d’Anàlisi Metodològica en Geografia (del 1974 al 1981)—, es pretén reflexionar sobre les aportacions científiques de la revista al debat acadèmic en geografia. Nascuda amb el compromís de tirar endavant una revista de qualitat, innovadora, oberta i crítica que introduís els avenços teòrics, conceptuals i metodològics de la disciplina, DAG ha contribuït a la transformació de la geografia i ha mantingut en bona mesura el tarannà crític que va caracteritzar les publicacions dels primers anys. Tot i això, es detecten mancances en alguns debats que han marcat la nostra societat i abordar en profunditat alguns camps disciplinaris i nous temes d’estudi.

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is currently one of the fastest growing health challenging, a non-communicable disease result of the XXI century lifestyle. Given its growing incidence and prevalence, it became increasingly imperative to develop new technologies and implement new biomarkers for early diagnosis in order to promote lifestyle changes and thus cause a setback of the disease. Promising biomarkers have been identified as predictive of T2D development; however, none of them have yet been implemented in clinical practice routine. Moreover, many prediabetic biomarkers can also represent potential therapeutical targets in disease management. Previous studies have identified the most popular biomarkers, which are being thoroughly investigated. However, there are some biomarkers with promising preliminary results with limited associated studies; hence there is still much to be understood about its mechanisms and associations in T2D pathophysiology. This work identifies and discusses the promising results of Galectin-3, Ophthalmate and Fetuin-A.

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains the second most common type of cancer in men worldwide in 2020. Despite its low death rate, the need for new therapies or prevention strategies is critical. The prostate carcinogenesis process is complex and multifactorial. PCa is caused by a variety of mutations and carcinogenic events that constitutes the disease’s multifactorial focus, capable of not only remodeling cellular activity, but also modeling metabolic pathways to allow adaptation to the nutritional requirements of the tumor, creating a propitious microenvironment. Some risk factors have been linked to the development of PCa, including Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). MetS is intrinsically related to PCa carcinogenic development, increasing its aggressiveness. On the other hand, T2DM has the opposite impact, although in other carcinomas its effect is similar to the MetS. Although these two metabolic disorders may share some developmental processes, such as obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia, their influence on PCa prognosis appears to have an inverse effect, which makes this a paradox. Understanding the phenomena behind this paradoxical behavior may lead to new concepts into the comprehension of the diseases, as well as to evaluate new therapeutical targets. Thus, this review aimed to evaluate the impact of metabolic disorders in PCa’s aggressiveness state and metabolism.

In late 2019, COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China. Currently, it is an ongoing global health threat stressing the need for therapeutic compounds. Linking the virus life cycle and its interaction with cell receptors and internal cellular machinery is key to developing therapies based on the control of infectivity and inflammation. In this framework, we evaluate the combination of cannabidiol (CBD), as an anti-inflammatory molecule, and terpenes, by their anti-microbiological properties, in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. Our group settled six formulations combining CBD and terpenes purified from Cannabis sativa L, Origanum vulgare, and Thymus mastichina. The formulations were analyzed by HPLC and GC-MS and evaluated for virucide and antiviral potential by in vitro studies in alveolar basal epithelial, colon, kidney, and keratinocyte human cell lines.Conclusions and ImpactWe demonstrate the virucide effectiveness of CBD and terpene-based formulations. F2TC reduces the infectivity by 17%, 24%, and 99% for CaCo-2, HaCat, and A549, respectively, and F1TC by 43%, 37%, and 29% for Hek293T, HaCaT, and Caco-2, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first approach that tackles the combination of CBD with a specific group of terpenes against SARS-CoV-2 in different cell lines. The differential effectiveness of formulations according to the cell line can be relevant to understanding the pattern of virus infectivity and the host inflammation response, and lead to new therapeutic strategies.

The gut microbiota refers to bacteria lodges in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that interact through various complex mechanisms. The disturbance of this ecosystem has been correlated with several diseases, such as neurologic, respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases and cancer. Therefore, the modulation of the gut microbiota has emerged as a potential therapeutic tool; of the various forms of gut microbiota modulation, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is the most approached. This recent technique involves introducing fecal material from a healthy donor into the patient’s gastrointestinal tract, aiming to restore the gut microbiota and lead to the resolution of symptoms. This procedure implies a careful donor choice, fine collection and handling of fecal material, and a balanced preparation of the recipient and consequent administration of the prepared content. Although FMT is considered a biological therapy with promising effects, side effects such as diarrhea and abdominal pain have also been claimed, making this a significant challenge in the application of FMT. Bearing this in mind, the present review aims to summarize the recent advances in understanding FMT mechanisms, their impact across different pathological conditions, and the associated side effects, emphasizing the most recent published data.

Este artículo analiza las tesis doctorales sobre Geografía y Género presentadas en las universidades españolas en las últimas décadas. Con este análisis se pretende reflexionar sobre los intereses y preocupaciones de las autoras, ver la evolución de las investigaciones, tanto desde el punto de vista temático como metodológico, y realizar un breve balance de lo realizado hasta la fecha. A partir de una búsqueda sistematizada en distintas bases de datos de tesis doctorales de acceso libre, se han podido consultar, revisar y clasificar para ofrecer un conocimiento más global de las investigaciones doctorales en esta materia. Los resultados evidencian una evolución ascendente en el número de tesis y una mayor diversidad temática y metodológica; también destaca un desequilibrio territorial en la producción científica doctoral con perspectiva de género. Las ausencias encontradas pueden deberse, entre otras, a la carencia en formación específica de geografía y género a nivel de grado y de máster, en la falta de liderazgos estables en la mentoría, o en otras resistencias derivadas de entornos institucionales muy conservadores.

In the last years, extensive investigation on miRNomics have shown to have great advantages in cancer personalized medicine regarding diagnosis, treatment and even clinical outcomes. Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common male cancer and about 50% of all PCa patients received radiotherapy (RT), despite some of them develop radioresistance. Here, we aim to provide an overview on the mechanisms of miRNA biogenesis and to discuss the functional impact of miRNAs on PCa under radiation response. As main findings, 23 miRNAs were already identified as being involved in genetic regulation of PCa cell response to RT. The mechanisms of radioresistance are still poorly understood, despite it has been suggested that miRNAs play an important role in cell signaling pathways. Identification of miRNAs panel can be thus considered an upcoming and potentially useful strategy in PCa diagnosis, given that radioresistance biomarkers, in both prognosis and therapy still remains a challenge.

Presentació del volum 65/3: Geografies de les sexualitats.

Albet, Abel (ed.); Monk, Janice; Prats Ferret, Maria y Veleda da Silva, Susana M. (2019)Maria Dolors Garcia Ramon: Geografía y género, disidencia e innovaciónBarcelona: Icària, 286 p. Espacios Críticos, 13ISBN 978-84-9888-836-2

Purpose: This paper aims at identifying obstacles, benefits, leading practices and lessons learned in the transition/certification of the revised standard for quality management systems ISO 9001:2015 for organizations in various sector, countries and spanning a range of sizes. Design/methodology/approach: Based on literature review and inputs from experts in management systems certification, a quantitative survey was launched in Portugal, Romania, Switzerland, and Turkey in April 2018, addressed at quality and organizational managers and CEOs from ISO 9001:2015-certified organizations by certification bodies partners of the leading International Quality Network (IQNet). The answers were collected anonymously through an automated online database, until the end of April 2018. The overall response rate was 3.1%, encompassing 222 organizations already certified according to ISO 9001:2015. Findings: The surveyed organizations reported significant benefits from ISO 9001:2015 implementation. Only 3.9% of the respondents considered the 3-year transition period (from September 15, 2015, to September 15, 2018) as too short. The respondents’ organizations attended ISO 9001:2015 training and seminars, and collected information from websites, newsletters, books and interpretation guides and directly from certification bodies. Some (29.8%) relied on their own internal resources for the transition processes, while external consultants supported 22.7%. The respondents considered the adoption of risk-based thinking the major difficulty to be overcome, but simultaneously as the major benefit to be realized. The alignment with other management systems, the increased top management commitment, the identification of risks and opportunities and the knowledge management were also reported as significant benefits. The initial timing when organizations started working on the transition process and the activities carried out seem to differ between countries, while the adjustments performed to the existing management systems seem to differ by sector and size of the organization. The benefits attained by the organizations vary according to the perception regarding the information resources made available and organizations should be aware of the advantages of early planning. The organizations that rated the benefits of ISO 9001:2015 adoption higher considered the information resources as adequate and started working with ISO 9001:2015 at an earlier stage, while those that rated the benefits lower stated that the information resources were made available too late. The organizations that successfully managed the ISO 9001:2015 transition/certification process were the ones that attended ISO 9001:2015 training courses and seminars and got useful information from their certification body. This research highlights the relevance of the geographical context, of the organization size and the sector for successful adoption of ISO 9001:2015. The identification and promotion of resources that led to the highest benefits are worth pursuing. The replication of this study can add a time perspective and the assessment if these perceptions are expected to materialize into tangible results such as cost benefits and higher customer satisfaction. Research limitations/implications: Due to the novelty of ISO 9001:2015, these results should be subjected to additional validation and longitudinal analyses. Although measures have been taken to minimize possible bias errors from both non-respondents’, and respondents’ subjectivity, these limitations of the survey methodology should be acknowledged. Practical implications: The findings of this research provide standardization and certification bodies and quality management systems practitioners with leading practices in the implementation of ISO 9001:2015 and guidance for an efficient and effective transition/adoption. Originality/value: This investigation contributes to the ISO 9001:2015 body of knowledge by mapping the transition/certification processes with a multi-country perspective. The results empirically validate the potential value of transitioning or adopting ISO 9001:2015 and give insights on the implementation methodologies, leading practices to follow, difficulties to overcome and benefits to realize, to maximize the success of ISO 9001:2015 adoption.

Despite the primary function of pioglitazone in antidiabetic treatment, this drug is a potent inducer of PPAR-γ, a crucial receptor that is involved in adipocyte differentiation. In this work, we propose an optimized methodology to enhance the differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts into adipocytes. This process is crucial for adipocyte secretome release, which is fundamental for understanding the molecular mechanisms that are involved in obesity for in vitro studies. To achieve this, a pioglitazone dose-response assay was determined over a range varying from 0 to 10 µM. Lipid accumulation was evaluated using Oil-Red-O. The results showed that 10 µM pioglitazone enhanced differentiation and increased secretome production. This secretome was then added into two cell lines: PC3 and RAW264.7. In the PC3 cells, an increase of aggressiveness was observed in terms of viability and proliferation, with the increase of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Conversely, in RAW264.7 cells, a reduction of viability and proliferation was observed, with a decrease in the overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Overall, the present work constitutes an improved method for adipocyte secretome production that is suitable for experimental biology studies and that could help with our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying adiposity influence in other cells.

The production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) is the main defense mechanism found in Gram negative bacteria. Among all the ESBLs, the CTX-M enzymes appear as the most efficient in terms of dissemination in different epidemiological contexts. CTX-M enzymes exhibit a striking plasticity, with a large number of allelic variants distributed in several sublineages, which can be associated with functional heterogeneity of clinical relevance. This observational analytical study provides an update of this family, currently with more than 200 variants described, from a phylogenetic, molecular, and structural point of view through homology in amino acid sequences. Our data, combined with described literature, provide phylogenetic and structural evidence of a new group. Thus, herein, we propose six groups among CTX-M enzymes: the already stablished CTX-M-1, CTX-M-2, CTX-M-8, CTX-M-9, and CTX-M-25 clusters, as well as CTX-M-151 as the new cluster.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D) is defined as a chronic condition caused by beta cell loss and/or dysfunction and insulin resistance (IR). The discovering of novel biomarkers capable of identifying T2D and other metabolic disorders associated with IR in a timely and accurate way is critical. In this review, 2-hydroxybutyric acid (2HB) is presented as that upheaval biomarker with an unexplored potential ahead. Due to the activation of other metabolic pathways during IR, 2HB is synthesized as a coproduct of protein metabolism, being the progression of IR intrinsically related to the increasing of 2HB levels. Hence, the focus of this review will be on the 2HB metabolite and its involvement in glucose homeostasis. A literature review was conducted, which comprised an examination of publications from different databases that had been published over the previous ten years. A total of 19 articles fulfilled the intended set of criteria. The use of 2HB as an early indicator of IR was separated into subjects based on the number of analytes examined simultaneously. In terms of the association between 2HB and IR, it has been established that increasing 2HB levels can predict the development of IR. Thus, 2HB has demonstrated considerable promise as a clinical monitoring molecule, not only as an IR biomarker, but also for disease follow-up throughout IR treatment.

Circuit-based zero-knowledge proofs have arose as a solution to the implementation of privacy in blockchain applications, and to current scalability problems that blockchains suffer from. The most efficient circuit-based zero-knowledge proofs use a pairing-friendly elliptic curve to generate and validate proofs. In particular, the circuits are built connecting wires that carry elements from a large prime field, whose order is determined by the number of elements of the pairing-friendly elliptic curve. In this context, it is important to generate an inner curve using this field, because it allows to create circuits that can verify public-key cryptography primitives, such as digital signatures and encryption schemes. To this purpose, in this article, we present a deterministic algorithm for generating twisted Edwards elliptic curves defined over a given prime field. We also provide an algorithm for checking the resilience of this type of curve against most common security attacks. Additionally, we use our algorithms to generate Baby Jubjub, a curve that can be used to implement elliptic-curve cryptography in circuits that can be validated in the Ethereum blockchain.

Copyright of Ager: Journal of Depopulation & Rural Development Studies / Revista de Estudios sobre Despoblación y Desarrollo Rural is the property of Rolde de Estudios Aragoneses and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

During the pathophysiological course of type 2 diabetes (T2D), several metabolic imbalances occur. There is increasing evidence that metabolic dysfunction far precedes clinical manifestations. Thus, knowing and understanding metabolic imbalances is crucial to unraveling new strategies and molecules (biomarkers) for the early-stage prediction of the disease’s non-clinical phase. Lifestyle interventions must be made with considerable involvement of clinicians, and it should be considered that not all patients will respond in the same manner. Individuals with a high risk of diabetic progression will present compensatory metabolic mechanisms, translated into metabolic biomarkers that will therefore show potential predictive value to differentiate between progressors/non-progressors in T2D. Specific novel biomarkers are being proposed to entrap prediabetes and target progressors to achieve better outcomes. This study provides a review of the latest relevant biomarkers in prediabetes. A search for articles published between 2011 and 2021 was conducted; duplicates were removed, and inclusion criteria were applied. From the 29 studies considered, a survey of the most cited (relevant) biomarkers was conducted and further discussed in the two main identified fields: metabolomics, and miRNA studies.

Intersectionality is a complex concept to deal with when doing research but also when teaching the interrelationships between space and social relations. Here we present "Relief Maps" as a visual tool for teaching intersectionality and its spatial dimension in higher education courses. "Relief Maps" are a model developed for research and applied in a "Geography and Gender" course at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) with the aim of promoting student reflection on the relationships between power structures, places and lived experiences, starting from their everyday lives.

Purpose: The implementation and certification of Management Systems International Standards, such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, achieved a high international recognition, with more than 1 million organizations with their Quality Management Systems certified worldwide. Researchers have been paying considerable attention to this theme and the number of published articles has robustly growth. Although, on an overall basis, the research results support the existence of positive impacts on the use and certification of these International Standards, there are various inconsistency and contradictory results, leading to some controversy over its impacts for organizations. This study aims to bring a longitudinal time perspective to this area of research, analyzing the articles published since 1996, on the benefits of Management Systems Certification. A longitudinal perspective of countries of authors origin, keywords and journals is presented, complemented with an evaluation of the research results. Design/methodology/approach: The research was supported with a Bibliometric Study, with data collected from Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Research Gate data bases. Following the detailed analysis of the journal titles, articles abstracts and their full content, an evaluation scale was applied to access if the results support the existence of a positive relationship between MSC and economic, financial or stakeholder results. Findings: The results evidence a steep increase in the number of publications addressing Management Systems Certification benefits, that mainly originate from Europe (48%) and East Asia and Pacific (23%), with Spain as the clear leading country accounting (43% of the total number of articles published between 1996 and April 2017). Journal of Cleaner Production (EMSC) and Total Quality Management and Business Excellence journal (QMSC) are the leading journals for disseminating the research and the most used keywords are “Quality/Environment”, “ISO 9001/14001”, “Performance”, “Management Systems” and “Certification”. There are also insights that the research is now open to other Management Systems either than Quality and Environment. The systematic review of the selected papers shows that the Management Systems adoption and certification brings fairly positives benefits (average 2,34 in a 1 to 5 Likert type scale) for the certified organizations, although some variations are observed. Some avenues for future research should consider the reliability and validation of measures; sampling and biases errors; the use of control, moderating and mediating variables; the consideration of time and situational contingencies; and the search for explanations for cause and effect relationships. The results of this research support the view that the investigation of Management Systems Certification benefits is indeed an issue of high academic and practitioners interest. This research, although subject to some subjective evaluation of the authors, and acknowledging that the research articles are not always comparable, aims to give some insights for this continuous research field. Research limitations/implications: Although the authors took measures to reduce subjectivity, it should be noted that the evaluation could be subject to the authors own interpretation and the research articles are not always comparable. Originality/value: This research makes a longitudinal and comprehensive evaluation of the articles published since 1996 on the benefits of Management System Certification. It highlights trends and gives contribution for future research, on a field of intense academic and practitioners interest.

En la última década se ha observado en algunas zonas rurales bien comunicadas de España un retorno de mujeres y hombres adultos jóvenes que se instalan en este medio para desarrollar proyectos profesionales propios. Este proceso de cambio en las comunidades rurales no es exclusivo de España sino que también se observa en Europa. Este artículo examina quien hay detrás de los nuevos procesos de re-ruralización en España a partir del análisis de proyectos profesionales llevados a cabo por hombres y mujeres adultos jóvenes, formados y con experiencia urbana. Estos agentes no son neutros en cuanto al género, con lo cual se toma esta categoría analítica para examinar las relaciones de poder que subyacen en estos procesos atendiendo a los objetivos, oportunidades y dificultades que tienen unos y otras en el origen de sus proyectos. La investigación se ha realizado a través de entrevistas en profundidad para poder conocer cómo las personas dan sentido a sus propias experiencias. Los resultados confirman la existencia de procesos de re-ruralización marcados por iniciativas innovadoras y muy profesionalizadas desarrolladas por mujeres y hombres cuyos discursos revelan nuevas formas de desigualdad y distintos mecanismos de poder.

En el marc d’un cert retorn al camp per part d’alguns col·lectius i en determinats territoris, dones formades s’instal·len en aquests entorns rurals i des de la seva posició contribueixen a construir la ruralitat actual. Aquest és un fenomen nou a diverses àrees rurals d’Espanya i d’Europa i frena la tendència d’un procés sostingut de despoblament rural selectiu quant a edat i gènere que ha afectat negativament les dones joves. Aquest article pretén donar a conèixer la trajectòria de vida d’algunes dones de Catalunya i Galícia que han decidit viure en entorns rurals i que resideixen al mateix municipi, comarca o província on van néixer. Ens interessa saber què els ha portat a viure al món rural i si aquesta permanència o tornada al lloc d’origen té a veure amb motius familiars, laborals o socioambientals que puguin il·lustrar la tendència d’aquestes noves ruralitats. De forma expressa, relacionem la seva trajectòria de mobilitat residencial amb el nivell d’estudis i l’ocupació laboral. L’estudi constata que els aspectes socioambientals i emocionals són importants en el retorn i corrobora que, amb igualtat de formació acadèmica, hi ha diferències d’oportunitats segons el grau de ruralitat.

Background: Susceptibility-guided therapies (SGTs) have been proposed as preferable to empirical rescue treatments after two treatment failures. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness and efficacy of SGT as third-line therapy. Methods: A systematic search was performed in multiple databases. Studies reporting cure rates of Helicobacter pylori with SGT in third-line therapy were selected. A qualitative analysis describing the current evidence and a pooled mean analysis summarizing the cure rates of SGT in third-line therapy was performed. Results: No randomized controlled trials or comparative studies were found. Four observational studies reported cure rates with SGT in third-line treatment, and three studies which mixed patients with second- and third-line treatment also reported cure rates with SGT. The majority of the studies included the patients when culture had been already obtained, and so the effectiveness of SGT and empirical therapy has never been compared. A pooled mean analysis including four observational studies (283 patients) showed intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates with SGT of 72% (95% confidence interval 56–87%; I 2 : 92%) and 80% (95% confidence interval 71–90%; I 2 : 80%), respectively. Conclusions: SGT may be an acceptable option as rescue treatment. However, cure rates are, at best, moderate and this approach has never been compared with a well-devised empirical therapy. The evidence in favor of SGT as rescue therapy is currently insufficient to recommend its use.

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[es] El artículo pretende reflexionar sobre la metodología utilizada desde la geografía para la investigación sobre las mujeres y la sociedad rural en Europa y España. En primer lugar se destaca la importancia de la teoría feminista para estas investigaciones, a continuación se analiza la relación entre los temas de estudio, los paradigmas y las metodologías utilizadas en la evolución de los estudios sobre la mujer rural. Finalmente, se valoran las posibilidades, dificultades y la adecuación de los métodos cualitativos y cuantitativos para estas investigaciones. [fr] L'objectif de cet article est de réfléchir sur la méthodologie utilisé d'après la Géographie à propos de la recherche sur l'étude des femmes et la société rurale en Europe et en Espagne. D'abord, nous soulignons l'importance de la théorie féministe; en second lieu nous analysons la relation entre les sujets de recherche, les paradigmes et les méthodologies utilisées dans les études sur les femmes rurales. Et finalement, nous évaluons les possibilités et les difficultés des méthodes qualitatives et quantitatives pour ces recherches.

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Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been shown to be efficacious to prevent pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, the target patients, the type of NSAID, the route of administration and the time of drug delivery remain unclear, as well as the potential efficacy in reducing the severity of pancreatitis, length of hospital stay and mortality. The objective of the study was to evaluate these questions by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis.Multiple searches were performed in the main databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing NSAIDs vs. placebo in the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis were included. Primary endpoint of the study was the efficacy for pancreatitis prevention. Sub-analyses were performed to determine the risk reduction in high and low risk patients, and to define optimal time, route of administration, and type of NSAID. Secondary endpoints were safety, moderate to severe pancreatitis prevention and reduction of hospital stay and mortality.Nine RCTs enrolling 2133 patients were included. The risk of pancreatitis was lower in the NSAID group than in the placebo group (RR 0.51; 95%CI 0.39-0.66). The number needed to treat was 14. The risk of moderate to severe pancreatitis was also lower in the NSAID group. (RR 0.46; 95%CI 0.28-0.76). No adverse events related to NSAID use were reported. NSAIDs were effective in both high-risk and unselected patients (RR 0.53; 95%CI 0.30-0.93 and RR 0.57; 95%CI 0.37-0.88). In the subanalyses, only rectal administration of either indomethacin (RR 0.54; 95%CI 0.38-0.75) or diclofenac (RR 0.42; 95%CI 0.21-0.84) was shown to be effective. There were not enough data to perform a meta-analysis in hospital stay reduction. No deaths occurred.A single rectal dose of indomethacin or diclofenac before or immediately after ERCP is safe and prevents procedure-related pancreatitis both in high risk and in unselected patients.

As infecções bacterianas, particularmente as causadas por bactérias resistentes aos antibióticos, permanecem aprincipal causa de morte entre pacientes hospitalizados com queimaduras e feridas. Para além da terapêutica sistémica, um elemento-chave na gestão de feridas infectadas é a aplicação local de antimicrobianos eficazes. Os bacteriófagos (ou fagos) têm demonstrado um elevado potencial de cura no tratamento de feridas infectadas com estirpes bacterianas resistentes aos antibióticos.