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En el presente trabajo se muestran los primeros resultados de nuestra investigación sobre el surgimiento de una línea cristiano-marxista en Córdoba de forma inédita en toda España. Para ello nos hemos servido de nuestro objeto de estudio: la revista Praxis, cuyos cinco números (1960-1961) vienen a constatar la existencia de dicha simbiosis. Su rápida difusión en el panorama antifranquista nacional es un claro síntoma del impacto que generó gracias a la calidad y novedad en sus textos; especialmente entre los sectores universitarios de Madrid y Valencia. Autores como su fundador, José Aumente Baena, Carlos Castilla del Pino o Nicolás Sartorius –entre otros– sitúan a Praxis como un espacio propicio para el diálogo antifranquista desde diversas perspectivas. Por tanto, consideramos de primer orden un estudio pormenorizado de la revista que, hasta las primeras conclusiones que hoy arrojamos, no ha sido registrado. Por tanto, constituye Praxis un agente transformador crucial para la comprensión del antifranquismo cordobés y, en última instancia, la creación del Círculo Cultural «Juan XXIII».

En este ensayo se reflexiona sobre la ficción y la posverdad. Sobre el uso de la ficción como herramienta con la que aproximarnos a la verdad y como (re)productora de la cultura, como recurso necesario con el que imaginar y explicar el mundo y, por otro lado, se analiza la posverdad, como fenómeno actual caracterizado por la intención de difuminar la verdad entre las mentiras, apelando a la emocionalidad y con intenciones de dominación. De este modo, explicación y (des)explicación entran en juego y la relación (o la confrontación) entre ambas debe ser entendida. Ciencia ficción, narratividad, ficción, posverdad, deep fakes o el poder de las pantallas serán los temas que se aborden desde esa perspectiva con la que dar otra pincelada más en ese compromiso que las ciencias sociales debemos tener sobre este fenómeno.

En el presente trabajo se analizan los diarios reflexivos de 63 estudiantes universitarios escritos en el segundo semestre del curso 2019/2020. Dichos diarios fueron escritos como parte del trabajo del alumnado en dos asignaturas relacionadas con el patrimonio etnológico en la Universidad de Córdoba (España). Nuestro objetivo es doble: mostrar las ventajas del uso del diario como instrumento de evaluación en la educación superior y hacer un primer análisis de las emociones expresadas por el estudiantado en sus diarios derivadas de la situación de emergencia sanitaria y confinamiento que se vivió en España, y en buena parte del mundo, a partir de marzo de 2020.

The most common causal agents of fungal keratitis are yeasts of the Candida genus. Adhesion constitutes the first stage of pathogenesis. Previous studies have shown that glycosaminoglycans from the corneal cell surface play an essential role in bacterial keratitis, although little is known about their role in fungal infections. The objective of this work is to analyze the role that glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) play in the adhesion of fungi of the Candida genus to corneal epithelial cells. The participation of GAGs in the adhesion of fungi was studied through the specific inhibition of the synthesis of these molecules by enzymatic digestion using specific lyases and the silencing of various genes involved in heparan sulfate sulfation. The results seem to indicate that glycosaminoglycans act to some extent as receptors for this fungus, although there are differences between fungal species. Treatment with inhibitors partially reduced the adherence of fungal species. Digestion of cell surface heparan sulfate further reduced the adherence of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata compared to chondroitin sulfate, indicating that the binding is preferentially mediated by heparan sulfate. Degradation of both heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate produced similar effects on the adherence of Candida parapsilosis. However, adhesion of C. albicans hyphae is not dependent on GAGs, suggesting the expression of other adhesins and the recognition of other receptors present in corneal cells. Our results open the door to new strategies for stopping the adhesion of pathogenic fungi, and their subsequent invasion of the cornea; thus, reducing the probability of the keratitis development.

Purpose: To analyze the changes in corneal innervation by means of in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCM) in patients diagnosed with Evaporative (EDE) and Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye (ADDE) and treated with a standard treatment for Dry Eye Disease (DED) in combination with Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF). Methods: Eighty-three patients diagnosed with DED were enrolled in this study and included in the EDE or ADDE subtype. The primary variables analyzed were the length, density and number of nerve branches, and the secondary variables were those related to the quantity and stability of the tear film and the subjective response of the patients measured with psychometric questionnaires. Results: The combined treatment therapy with PRGF outperforms the standard treatment therapy in terms of subbasal nerve plexus regeneration, significantly increasing length, number of branches and nerve density, as well as significantly improving the stability of the tear film (p < 0.05 for all of them), and the most significant changes were located in the ADDE subtype. Conclusions: the corneal reinnervation process responds in a different way depending on the treatment prescribed and the subtype of dry eye disease. In vivo confocal microscopy is presented as a powerful technique in the diagnosis and management of neurosensory abnormalities in DED.

The saccharide chains of heparan sulfate appear to be involved in several aspects Alzheimer disease (AD) pathogenesis. Their structural complexity is due to the expression of different isoenzymes. We studied the differential transcription of heparan sulfate chain biosynthesis in AD brains, analyzing different brain regions in patients with different extents of AD pathology. The transcriptomic study was performed by RT-PCR using samples of amygdala, anterior hippocampus, posterior hippocampus, claustrum, calcarine fissure, globus pallidus and cerebellum from patients with mild, moderate, or severe AD, as well as healthy individuals. Certain heparan sulfate epitopes were also detected by immunohistochemistry. Several genes, across all stages of heparan sulfate synthesis, showed altered transcription in different brain regions of AD patients. The numbers of alterations were greater in in moderate versus mild AD patients. In severe patients, there were fewer alterations in genes related to early stages of biosynthesis, and overexpression of genes involved in late stages. The alterations correlated with progressive brain atrophy, although alterations were more common in the cerebellum. Detection of some heparan sulfate epitopes by immunohistochemistry was consistent with previous studies. In conclusion, transcriptional alterations in the biosynthetic genes of heparan sulfate depend on the brain region and the degree of AD pathology.

The skin is the largest organ in the human body, comprising the main barrier against the environment. When the skin loses its integrity, it is critical to replace it to prevent water loss and the proliferation of opportunistic infections. For more than 40 years, tissue-engineered skin grafts have been based on the in vitro culture of keratinocytes over different scaffolds, requiring between 3 to 4 weeks of tissue culture before being used clinically. In this study, we describe the development of a polymerizable skin hydrogel consisting of keratinocytes and fibroblast entrapped within a fibrin scaffold. We histologically characterized the construct and evaluated its use on an in vivo wound healing model of skin damage. Our results indicate that the proposed methodology can be used to effectively regenerate skin wounds, avoiding the secondary in vitro culture steps and thus, shortening the time needed until transplantation in comparison with other bilayer skin models. This is achievable due to the instant polymerization of the keratinocytes and fibroblast combination that allows a direct application on the wound. We suggest that the polymerizable skin hydrogel is an inexpensive, easy and rapid treatment that could be transferred into clinical practice in order to improve the treatment of skin wounds.

Este artículo analiza el efecto del internamiento en los menores infractores y para ello se fija en su relación con la comida como hecho empírico donde observarlo. Las reacciones que presentan los menores frente al plato de comida reflejan el choque cultural al que se enfrentan en el internamiento y la distancia cultural existente entre sus hábitos y una dieta impuesta y aparentemente saludable, así como su resistencia a aceptar su nuevo rol y las posibles conductas desencadenadas ante esta situación. Para ello hemos empleado los trastornos alimentarios identificados por el manual de diagnóstico de la Asociación Americana de Psiquiatría como herramienta etnográfica con la que agrupar y analizar los discursos y prácticas que tienen los menores. Un estudio etnográfico con el que conocer los discursos asociados a la alimentación en menores internados en un centro de internamiento y la relación entre los factores culturales que determinan algunas alteraciones en su comportamiento y la situación de privación de libertad. Cuerpos dominados, desempeño de roles goffmianos o la presión a la que el cuerpo es sometido serán algunos de los conceptos que aparecerán, analizando cómo estas variables encuentran una vía de resistencia a través de la conducta alimentaria.

To replace the Draize eye irritation test (OECD Test Guideline 404), several test methods based on reconstructed cornea-like epithelium (RhCE) have been developed and adopted in the OECD TG 492. The objective of this study was to stablish the experimental procedures and evaluate the performance assessment of QobuR-RhCE, an in-house RhCE model to be used for the evaluation of eye hazard. We define the essential structural, functional and procedural elements of the test method components to help assuring that the proposed test method is based on the same concepts as the validated reference methods. Performance assessment was evaluated in accordance with the revised performance standards for the assessment of proposed similar or modified in vitro reconstructed human cornea-like epithelium and the minimum list of reference chemicals was evaluated. As result, the proposed method scored 93.3% sensibility, 60% specificity, 76.7% accuracy and 96.7% within-laboratory reproducibility (WLR), providing a similar performance in comparison to the validated reference methods. Additionally, we describe a secondary endpoint based on Transepithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) that could be of use to better discriminate between irritants and non-irritants. Taken together the results indicate that the QobuR-RhCE test method is an accurate screening tool that can be used as a standalone alternative to evaluate ocular irritation.

[Purpose]: To describe the association between Sars-CoV-2 infection and small fiber neuropathy in the cornea identified by in vivo corneal confocal microscopy., [Methods]: Twenty-three patients who had overcome COVID-19 were recruited to this observational retrospective study. Forty-six uninfected volunteers were also recruited and studied as a control group. All subjects were examined under in vivo confocal microscopy to obtain images of corneal subbasal nerve fibers in order to study the presence of neuroma-like structures, axonal beadings and dendritic cells. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and Schirmer tear test were used as indicators of Dry Eye Disease (DED) and ocular surface pathology., [Results]: Twenty-one patients (91.31%) presented alterations of the corneal subbasal plexus and corneal tissue consistent with small fiber neuropathy. Images from healthy subjects did not indicate significant nerve fiber or corneal tissue damage. Eight patients reported increased sensations of ocular dryness after COVID-19 infection and had positive DED indicators. Beaded axons were found in 82.60% of cases, mainly in patients reporting ocular irritation symptoms. Neuroma-like images were found in 65.22% patients, more frequently in those with OSDI scores >13. Dendritic cells were found in 69.56% of patients and were more frequent in younger asymptomatic patients. The presence of morphological alterations in patients up to 10 months after recovering from Sars-CoV-2 infection points to the chronic nature of the neuropathy., [Conclusions]: Sars-CoV-2 infection may be inducing small fiber neuropathy in the ocular surface, sharing symptomatology and morphological landmarks with DED and diabetic neuropathy.

The most common causal agents of fungal keratitis are yeasts of the

Resumen Recientemente se ha planteado que las alteraciones de las capas de la retina podrian ser un biomarcador de determinados trastornos mentales, al derivar esta de la misma capa embrionaria que el cerebro y estar conectada con este a traves del nervio optico. El objeto del presente articulo es ofrecer una revision sistematica de la literatura y una sintesis tematica sobre el estado actual de las alteraciones de las capas de la retina identificadas mediante tomografia de coherencia optica en los pacientes con esquizofrenia, trastorno bipolar y depresion mayor. Para ello se realizo una busqueda sistematica de la literatura, la lectura critica de los articulos seleccionados y la sintesis tematica de los resultados. Los pacientes con esquizofrenia son los que presentan mas alteraciones, seguidos de los pacientes con trastorno bipolar, siendo muy escasos los hallazgos en la depresion. La capa de fibras nerviosas de la retina es la capa retiniana con mas alteraciones en la esquizofrenia y en el trastorno bipolar, mientras que ningun estudio en depresion mayor encontro alteraciones en ella. De los parametros clinicos, la duracion de la enfermedad correlaciona significativa e inversamente con el grosor de las distintas capas en todos los trastornos. A la hora de interpretar estos datos es necesario tener en cuenta las limitaciones y diferencias de los estudios, especialmente el tiempo medio de evolucion de los trastornos. Dado que este era muy diferente entre los 3 trastornos (mas del doble en el caso de la esquizofrenia respecto a la depresion mayor), las diferencias en los resultados encontrados podrian deberse mas al efecto del tiempo de evolucion que al trastorno en si. En conclusion, los hallazgos de la tomografia de coherencia optica son esperanzadores, ya que podrian proporcionar biomarcadores de la neurodegeneracion y/o neuroprogresion tanto de la esquizofrenia como del trastorno bipolar.

(1) Background: Abnormal corneal wound healing compromises visual acuity and can lead to neuropathic pain. Conventional treatments usually fail to restore the injured corneal tissue. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a synthetic heparan sulfate mimetic polymer (HSmP) in a mouse model of corneal wound healing. (2) Methods: A surgical laser ablation affecting the central cornea and subbasal nerve plexus of mice was used as a model of the wound-healing assay. Topical treatment with HSmP was contrasted to its vehicle and a negative control (BSS). Corneal repair was studied using immunofluorescence to cell proliferation (Ki67), apoptosis (TUNEL assay), myofibroblast transformation (αSMA), assembly of epithelial cells (E-cadherin) and nerve regeneration (β-tubulin III). (3) Results: At the end of the treatment, normal epithelial cytoarchitecture and corneal thickness were achieved in HSmP-treated animals. HSmP treatment reduced myofibroblast occurrence compared to eyes irrigated with vehicle (p < 0.01) or BSS (p < 0.001). The HSmP group showed 50% more intraepithelial nerves than the BSS or vehicle groups. Only HSmP-treated corneas improved the visual quality to near transparent. (4) Conclusions: These results suggest that HSmP facilitates the regeneration of the corneal epithelium and innervation, as well as restoring transparency and reducing myofibroblast scarring after laser experimental injury.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (mHE) has been shown to affect daily functioning, quality of life, driving and overall mortality. However, little is known about treating or diagnosing early impairments in mHE. We studied one of its precipitating factors, portal hypertension which is driving the inflammatory process behind mHE. The purpose was to describe an indirect diagnostic method able to detect the pathology at early stages based on the study of the vascularization and mast cells conjunctival hyperplasia as secondary inflammatory response associated to portal hypertension. Finally, we correlated the presence of histological changes in the eye in mHE with deficits in behavioral task acquisition. METHODS Rats were trained on a stimulus-response task and a spatial working memory task using the Morris water maze. Two groups of animals were used: a SHAM (sham-operated) group (n=10) and a portal hypertension (HT) group (n=10). The triple portal vein ligation method was used to create an animal model of mHE. Latencies to reach the platform, number of glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactive astrocytes (GFAP-IR), mast cell expression and presence/absence of blood and lymphatic vessels were examined. RESULTS There were differences in stimulus-response behavioral performance, with a deficit in the acquisition in the HT group. However, no differences between groups were found on the spatial working memory task. At the same time, differences between groups were found in the GFAP-IR density, which was lower in the HT group, and in the number of mast cells and the presence of vessels, which were higher in the HT group. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we provide the first preliminary insight into the validity of exploring the eye as a possible tool to assess the diagnosis of mHE conditions.

Purpose To investigate whether plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) eye drops maintain their biological potential after a freeze drying process. The addition of a lyoprotectant like trehalose was also evaluated. Methods Blood from three healthy donors was collected to obtain eye drops by PRGF technology. The resultant eye drops were divided in four groups: PRGF, freeze-dried PRGF (PRGF lyo), and PRGF lyophilized mixed with 2,5% trehalose (PRGF lyo+2.5T) or 5% trehalose (PRGF lyof+5T). Chemical and biological characteristics were evaluated. Photorefractive keratectomy was performed on C57BL/6 mice which were divided in three treatment groups: control, PRGF, and PRGF lyo. Corneal wound healing and haze formation were evaluated macroscopically. Eyes were collected at 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after surgery, and were processed for histologic studies. Results The pH values of PRGF samples increased significantly after the lyophilization process. Osmolarity levels increased significantly in PRGF samples mixed with trehalose in comparison with PRGF samples without protectants. The freeze drying process maintained growth factors levels as well as the biological properties of PRGF eye drops even without the use of lyoprotectants. PRGF lyo treatment significantly decreased the re-epithelialization time and haze formation in photorefractive keratectomy-treated corneas regarding PRGF and control groups. Furthermore, the PRGF lyo group significantly decreased the number of smooth muscle actin-positive cells in comparison with the control group at each time of the study and at days 2 and 3 in the PRGF group. Conclusions The freeze drying process preserves the protein and growth factor content as well as the biological properties of PRGF eye drops, even without the use of protectants. Freeze-dried PRGF eye drops accelerate corneal tissue regeneration after photorefractive keratectomy in comparison with the control group. Translational Relevance Our study shows the feasibility to preserve the biological capability of PRGF eye drops as freeze-dried formulation, avoiding the addition of protectants., Resumen (Foreign Language Abstract) Objetivo Investigar si el colirio de plasma rico en factores de crecimiento (PRGF) mantiene su potencial biológico después de un proceso de liofilización. También se evaluó la adición de un lioprotector como la trehalosa. Métodos Se recogió sangre de tres donantes sanos para obtener colirio mediante la tecnología PRGF. El colirio resultante se dividió en cuatro grupos: PRGF, PRGF liofilizado (PRGF lyo) y PRGF liofilizado mezclado con trehalosa al 2,5% (PRGF lyo + 2.5T) o trehalosa al 5% (PRGF lyof + 5T). Se evaluaron las características químicas y biológicas de cada uno de los colirios. Se realizó una queratectomía fotorrefractiva (PRK) en ratones C57BL/6 que se dividieron en tres grupos de tratamiento: Control, PRGF y PRGF lyo. La curación de la herida corneal y la formación de “haze” se evaluaron macroscópicamente. Los ojos se recolectaron en los días 1, 2, 3 y 7 después de la cirugía, y se procesaron para la realización de estudios histológicos. Resultados Los valores de pH de las muestras de PRGF aumentaron significativamente después del proceso de liofilización. Los niveles de osmolaridad aumentaron significativamente en las muestras de PRGF mezcladas con trehalosa en comparación con las muestras de PRGF sin protectores. El proceso de liofilización mantuvo los niveles de factores de crecimiento, así como las propiedades biológicas de los colirios de PRGF, incluso sin el uso de lioprotectores. El tratamiento con PRGF lyo redujo significativamente el tiempo de reepitelización y la formación de “haze” en las córneas tratadas con PRK con respecto al grupo de control y PRGF. Además, el grupo PRGF lyo redujo significativamente el número de células SMA positivas en comparación con el grupo control en cada tiempo de estudio y en los días 2 y 3 con respecto al grupo de PRGF. Conclusiones el proceso de liofilización conserva el contenido de proteínas y factores de crecimiento, así como las propiedades biológicas del colirio de PRGF, incluso sin el uso de protectores. El colirio de PRGF liofilizado acelera la regeneración del tejido corneal después de la PRK en comparación con el grupo de control. Relevancia Traslacional nuestro estudio muestra la viabilidad de preservar la capacidad biológica del colirio de PRGF como formulación liofilizada evitando la adición de protectores.

El proyecto desarrolla y consolida el trabajo en red entre el aula universitaria y colectivos sociales de Córdoba mediante la realización de proyectos de Aprendizaje-Servicio en los Grados de Educación Infantil, Primaria, Social y el Máster en Cultura de Paz, Conflictos, Educación y Derechos Humanos. Además, profundiza en la reflexión sobre la propia práctica del grupo de docentes. Con esta metodología se busca la interactuación con colectivos y organizaciones sociales, promoviendo la transferencia y el compromiso social y cívico de la comunidad universitaria. Ese posicionamiento ha sido fruto del proceso reflexivo y coordinado del profesorado desde el curso 2014/15, el apoyo de la Unidad de Voluntariado y la colaboración de distintos colectivos que se implican con el alumnado en el desarrollo de tareas de aprendizaje. La metodología es experiencial, investigadora y dialógica. Los resultados alcanzados han favorecido la formación de los y las estudiantes mediante la incorporación de una perspectiva global-local y la adquisición de pautas para la interpretación y toma de decisiones en contextos educativos. Se espera, además, haber aumentado el compromiso cívico y promovido la responsabilidad social de la Universidad. El profesorado ha visto favorecida la coordinación y de desarrollo profesional al compartir dilemas didácticos y propósitos formativos. The project develops and consolidates the network between the university classroom and social groups of Córdoba through the realization of Service-Learning projects in the Primary Education, Early Childhood Education and Social Education degrees and the Master in Culture of Peace, Conflicts, Education and Humans Rights. In addition, it deepens in the reflection on the own practice of the group of teachers. With this methodology, interaction with social groups and organizations is sought, promoting the transfer and the social and civic engagement of the university community. This methodology has been the fruit of the reflective and coordinated process of the teaching staff since 2014/15, the support of the Volunteering Unit and the collaboration of different groups that are involved with the students in the development of learning tasks. The methodology is experiential, researcher and dialogical. The results achieved have favored the students training through the incorporation of a global-local perspective and the acquisition of guidelines for interpretation and decision-making in educational contexts. It is expected, in addition, to have increased the civic commitment and promoted the social responsibility of the University. The teaching staff has had the opportunity of coordination and professional development to share dilemmas and training purposes.

It has recently been suggested that alterations of the layers of the retina could be a biomarker of specific mental disorders since they originate in the same embryonic layer as the brain and both are interconnected through the optic nerve. The purpose of this article is to offer a systematic review of the literature and a thematic synthesis on the current state of the alterations of the retina layers identified by optical coherence tomography in patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression. For this purpose, we performed a bibliographic search, a systematic review of the studies and a thematic synthesis of the reported findings. Patients with schizophrenia have more abnormal findings followed by patients with bipolar disorder, with very few findings in depression. The nerve fiber layer is the retinal layer with more abnormal findings both in schizophrenia and in bipolar disorder, while no study in major depression found alterations in it. Of the clinical parameters, the duration of the illness correlates significantly and inversely with the thickness of the different layers in all disorders. When interpreting these data, it is necessary to take into account the limitations and differences of the studies, especially the mean length of the disorders. Given that this was very different among the 3 disorders (more than doubled in the case of schizophrenia respect to major depression), the differences in the results found could be due more to the effect of the length of illness than to the disorder itself. In summary, optical coherence tomography findings are promising, since they could provide biomarkers of neurodegeneration and/or neuroprogression of both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

[Purpose]: To define the characteristics and time course of the morphologic and functional changes experienced by corneal sensory nerves after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)., [Methods]: Unilateral corneal excimer laser photoablation was performed in 54 anesthetized 3- to 6-month-old mice; 11 naïve animals served as control. Mice were killed 0, 3, 7, 15, and 30 days after PRK. Excised eyes were placed in a recording chamber superfused at 34°C. Electrical nerve impulse activity of single sensory terminals was recorded with a micropipette applied onto the corneal surface. Spontaneous and stimulus-evoked (cold, heat, mechanical, and chemical stimuli) nerve terminal impulse (NTI) activity was analyzed. Corneas were fixed and stained with anti-β-Tubulin III antibody to measure nerve density and number of epithelial nerve penetration points of regenerating subbasal leashes., [Results]: Nerve fibers and NTI activity were absent in the injured area between 0 and 7 days after PRK, when sparse regenerating nerve sprouts appear. On day 15, subbasal nerve density reached half the control value and abnormally responding cold-sensitive terminals were recorded inside the lesion. Thirty days after PRK, nerve density was almost restored, active cold thermoreceptors were abundant, and polymodal nociceptor activity first reappeared., [Conclusions]: Morphologic regeneration of subbasal corneal nerves started shortly after PRK ablation and was substantially completed 30 days later. Functional recovery appears faster in cold terminals than polymodal terminals, possibly reflecting an incomplete damage of the more extensively branched cold-sensitive axon terminals. Evolution of postsurgical discomfort sensations quality may be associated with the variable regeneration pattern of each fiber type., Supported by FC-15-GRUPIN14-141 (Consejería de Economía y Empleo, Asturias, Spain); SAF2014-54518-C3-1-R, SAF2014-54518-C3-2-R, SAF2017-83674-C2-1-R, and SAF2017-83674-C2-2-R (Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Spain, and European Regional Development Funds, European Union), and the Spanish “Severo Ochoa” Program for Centers of Excellence in R&D (SEV-2013-0317). Funding from Fundación Ramón Areces and Caja Rural de Asturias, Spain, and European Commission H2020 GA No. 667400 are also acknowledged.

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivs License., Morphological and functional alterations of peripheral somatosensory neurons during the aging process lead to a decline of somatosensory perception. Here, we analyze the changes occurring with aging in trigeminal ganglion (TG), TRPM8-expressing cold thermoreceptor neurons innervating the mouse cornea, which participate in the regulation of basal tearing and blinking and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of dry eye disease (DED). TG cell bodies and axonal branches were examined in a mouse line (TRPM8BAC-EYFP) expressing a fluorescent reporter. In 3 months old animals, about 50% of TG cold thermoreceptor neurons were intensely fluorescent, likely providing strongly fluorescent axons and complex corneal nerve terminals with ongoing activity at 34°C and low-threshold, robust responses to cooling. The remaining TRPM8+ corneal axons were weakly fluorescent with nonbeaded axons, sparsely ramified nerve terminals, and exhibited a low-firing rate at 34°C, responding moderately to cooling pulses as do weakly fluorescent TG neurons. In aged (24 months) mice, the number of weakly fluorescent TG neurons was strikingly high while the morphology of TRPM8+ corneal axons changed drastically; 89% were weakly fluorescent, unbranched, and often ending in the basal epithelium. Functionally, 72.5% of aged cold terminals responded as those of young animals, but 27.5% exhibited very low-background activity and abnormal responsiveness to cooling pulses. These morpho-functional changes develop in parallel with an enhancement of tear's basal flow and osmolarity, suggesting that the aberrant sensory inflow to the brain from impaired peripheral cold thermoreceptors contributes to age-induced abnormal tearing and to the high incidence of DED in elderly people., This work was supported by grants FC-15-GRUPIN14–141 (Consejería de Economía y Empleo, Asturias, Spain), Fundación Ramón Areces, Caja Rural de Asturias, SAF2014–54518-C3-2-R, SAF2014–54518-C3-1-R, SAF2017–83674-C2-2-R, SAF2017–83674-C2-1-R, and SAF2016–77233-R (Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Spain and European Regional Development Funds, European Union), and “Severo Ochoa” Program for Centers of Excellence in R&D (SEV-2013-0317).

En este artículo se realiza un recorrido por toda la legislación que actúa en relación a los menores infractores y los centros de internamiento destinados al cumplimiento de sus medidas judiciales. Con una perspectiva histórica, desde su aparición específica en el ámbito internacional hasta el marco autonómico andaluz, en España, pasando por las principales normas europeas y estatales; exponemos todo el marco normativo, haciendo un análisis especial de las leyes vigentes en la actualidad.This article shows the main aspects of the whole legislation about juvenile offenders and young prisons. With a historic approach, from their specific birth in the international court, to local approach (Andalusia), including the European and Spanish development; we present an exposition of the whole rule frame, making a special analysis of the current laws.

This study evaluated the efficacy of Plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF-Endoret) on the corneal wound healing process after Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). To address this, blood from three healthy donors was collected, centrifuged and, the whole plasma column (WP) and the plasma fraction with the highest platelet concentration (F3) were collected. The effects of F3 and WP on the proliferation and migration of human corneal epithelial cells (HCE) were analyzed. PRK was performed on C57BL/6 mice. Animals were divided in three treatment groups: Control, F3, and WP. Corneal wound healing and haze formation were evaluated macroscopically. Eyes were collected at 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after surgery, and were processed for histological studies. Immunofluorescence was used to assess cellular proliferation, apoptosis and myofibroblast transformation in the mouse cornea. Results showed a significant increased on proliferation and wound healing after F3 and WP treatment when compared with control group. In vivo studies showed significant reduction on haze formation in mice treated with both PRGF-Endoret formulations (F3 and WP). Histological studies showed an increase of epithelial cell proliferation in corneas of control group, promoting an epithelial hyperplasia. The number of SMA-positive cells (corresponding to myofibroblast differentiation) was significantly lower in the PRGF-Endoret group than in the control group, correlating with the higher transparence results observed macroscopically in both PRGF-Endoret groups. According to this, it can be concluded that PRGF-Endoret accelerates corneal tissue regeneration after PRK, reducing haze formation.

Background. Keratoconus has classically been defined as a noninflammatory disorder, although recent studies show elevated levels of inflammatory markers suggesting that keratoconus could be, at least in part, an inflammatory condition. Heparanase upregulation has been described in multiple inflammatory disorders. In this article, we study the differential expression of heparanase in cornea and tears from keratoconus patients and healthy controls. Methods. A transcriptomic approach was used employing quantitative polymerase chain reaction to analyze the expression of heparanase and heparanase 2 in stromal and epithelial corneal cells. The protein expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in corneal sections. Enzymatic activity in tears was measured using [3H]-labeled heparan sulfate as substrate. Results. Heparanase transcription was detected in stromal and epithelial cells and appeared upregulated in keratoconus. Overexpression of the enzyme was also detected by immunohistochemistry. Corneal expression of heparanase 2 was detected in some cases. Heparanase catalytic activity was found in tears and displayed a positive correlation with the degree of keratoconus. Conclusions. Heparanase overexpresses in keratoconic corneas, possibly reinforcing the inflammatory condition of the pathology. The presence of heparanase activity in tears allows us to propose its use as a biomarker for the diagnosis of the disorder.

The aim of our study was to assess the clinical effectiveness of topical adipose derived stem cell (ADSC) treatment in laser induced corneal wounds in mice by comparing epithelial repair, inflammation, and histological analysis between treatment arms. Corneal lesions were performed on both eyes of 40 mice by laser induced photorefractive keratectomy. All eyes were treated with topical azythromycin bid for three days. Mice were divided in three treatment groups (n = 20), which included: control, stem cells and basic serum; which received topical treatment three times daily for five consecutive days. Biomicroscope assessments and digital imaging were performed by two masked graders at 30, 54, 78, 100, and 172 h to analyze extent of fluorescein positive epithelial defect, corneal inflammation, etc. Immunohistochemical techniques were used in fixed eyes to assess corneal repair markers Ki67, α Smooth Muscle Actin (α-SMA) and E-Cadherin. The fluorescein positive corneal lesion areas were significantly smaller in the stem cells group on days 1 (p < 0.05), 2 (p < 0.02) and 3. The stem cell treated group had slightly better and faster re-epithelization than the serum treated group in the initial phases. Comparative histological data showed signs of earlier and better corneal repair in epithelium and stromal layers in stem cell treated eyes, which showed more epithelial layers and enhanced wound healing performance of Ki67, E-Cadherin, and α-SMA. Our study shows the potential clinical and histological advantages in the topical ADSC treatment for corneal lesions in mice.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) are multipotent, safe, non-immunogenic and can differentiate into functional keratocytes in situ. The topical use of ADSC derived from human processed lipoaspirate was investigated for treating injured rat cornea.A total of 19 rats were used. Six animals initially underwent corneal lesion experiments with 0.5 N NaOH (right eye) and 0.2 N (left). The 0.2 NaOH protocol was then used in 13 rats. All 26 eyes of 13 rats eyes received topical azythromycin bid for 3 d and divided into five treatment groups (n = 5 eyes/group), which included: control, stem cells, serum, stem + serum and adipose (raw human lipoaspirate). The four treatment groups received topical treatment three times daily for 3 d. Stem cells were isolated and harvested from human lipoaspirate. Topical eye drops were prepared daily with 1 × 10(5) cells/treatment. Fluorescein positive defect area and light microscope assessment was performed at 20, 28, 45, 50 and 74 h. Animals were sacrificed at 74 h for histological evaluation. Data were statistically analyzed for differences amongst groups.The stem cell-treated eyes had significantly smaller epithelial defects at each time point compared to control- and adipose-treated eyes (p 0.05). This group showed slightly better epithelium healing than the serum and combined group, yet not significantly different. Histology showed that stem cell-treated corneas had complete re-epithelization, with less inflammatory cells and limited fibroblast activation structure compared with the control eyes.Our preliminary results show that topical treatment with ADSC seems to improve corneal wound healing.

¿Qué significan los tatuajes para los menores infractores internados? ¿Son una marca de exclusión o de autoexclusión? ¿Son conscientes de lo que significan? Tras realizar una exposición desde la Antropología en la que situamos a los tatuajes en el plano simbólico y analizarlos dentro de lo que hemos llamado la piel social, la piel política, la piel dramática y la piel como producto, nos disponemos a realizar un análisis antropológico sobre estas manifestaciones en los centros de internamiento de menores infractores. Intentaremos dar respuesta a estas y otras preguntas sobre la marcas y especialmente, sobre los tatuajes que se realizan en este entorno acotado y específico como son los centros de internamiento.

Corneal injuries are one of the most frequently observed ocular diseases, leading to permanent damage and impaired vision if they are not treated properly. In this sense, adequate wound healing after injury is critical for keeping the integrity and structure of the cornea. The goal of this work was to assess the potential of polymeric nanocapsules, either unloaded or loaded with cyclosporine A or vitamin A, alone or in combination with mitomycin C, for the treatment of corneal injuries induced by photorefractive keratectomy surgery. The biopolymers selected for the formation of the nanocapsules were polyarginine and protamine, which are known for their penetration enhancement effect. The results showed that, following topical instillation to a mouse model of corneal injury, all the nanocapsule formulations, either unloaded or loaded with cyclosporine A or vitamin A, were able to stimulate corneal wound healing. In addition, the healing rate observed for the combination of unloaded protamine nanocapsules with mitomycin C was comparable to the one observed for the positive control Cacicol®, a biopolymer known as a corneal wound healing enhancer. Regarding the corneal opacity, the initial grade of corneal haze (>3) induced by the photorefractive keratectomy was more rapidly reduced in the case of the positive control, Cacicol®, than in corneas treated with the nanocapsules. In conclusion, this work shows that drug-free arginine-rich (polyarginine, protamine) nanocapsules exhibit a positive behavior with regard to their potential use for corneal wound healing.

Durante los años 1988 y 2001, el Programa de Investigaciones Arqueológicas Chincha del Instituto Andino de Estudios Arqueológicos – INDEA, ha venido enfocando parte de sus tareas en un sector del conjunto monumental de Tambo de Mora compuesto por una superposición de restos de talleres metalúrgicos de purificación / calentamiento y trabajo de productos finales. Los talleres parecen corresponder a, por lo menos, tres momento grandes. En el interior de cada uno y en sus lapsos de uso se han efectuado remodelaciones y redistribuciones. Los estudios apuntan al trabajo de la plata y, probablemente, oro., During the years 1998 and 2001, The Chincha Archaeological Investigations Program, of the Andean Institute of Archaeological Studies – INDEA, has focused part of their investigations in a sector of the monumental complex of Tambo de Mora, composed by a superposition of evidences from metallurgical workshops. These were used to purify and heat the metal, and to making the final products. The use, there were remodelations and redistributions of this space. The analysis indicates that the metallurgical work was concentrated on silver and, probably, gold

Infectious diseases remain an important global health problem. The interaction of a wide range of pathogen bacteria with host cells from many different tissues is frequently mediated by proteoglycans. These compounds are ubiquitous complex molecules which are not only involved in adherence and colonization, but can also participate in other steps of pathogenesis. To overcome the problem of microbial resistance to antibiotics new therapeutic agents could be developed based on the characteristics of the interaction of pathogens with proteoglycans.