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Normal aging presents subtle cognitive changes that can be detected before meeting the criteria for Mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Older people with low cognitive reserve and who receive limited cognitive stimulation are at greater risk of deterioration. In this regard, cognitive stimulation (CS) has been identified as an intervention that reduces this risk, provided that its design takes into account the differences in the level of cognitive reserve (CR) acquired throughout life and the baseline level of cognitive functioning. The general objective of this study is to evaluate, through a randomized clinical trial, the effectiveness of a computerized cognitive stimulation program, designed and adapted from Occupational Therapy based on the level of cognitive reserve in older adults in Primary Care. 100 participants will be randomized in a stratified manner according to the level of cognitive reserve (low/moderate/high), assigning 50 participants to the control group and 50 participants to the intervention group. The intervention group will carry out a computerized cognitive stimulation intervention designed and adapted from occupational therapy according to the level of cognitive reserve, through the “stimulus” platform. The main result expected to be achieved is the improvement of higher brain functions. As secondary results, we expect that those cognitive aspects most vulnerable to aging will decrease more slowly (in areas such as memory, executive function, attention and processing speed), and that the cognitive reserve of the participants will increase, in addition to being able to balance gender differences in these aspects. We think that these results can have a positive impact on the creation of adapted, meaningful and stimulating CS programs in older adults to prevent MCI and experience healthier aging.

Resumen: Objetivo: Describir los problemas relacionados con la medicación (PRM) detectados y su resolución tras la intervención farmacéutica en la revisión del tratamiento de pacientes mayores polimedicados institucionalizados. Diseño: Estudio descriptivo de una cohorte de seguimiento retrospectivo, de enero a octubre de 2022. Emplazamiento: Doce centros residenciales de la Comunidad de Madrid. Participantes: Se incluyeron 295 pacientes de 65 o más años con 5 o más medicamentos prescritos de forma crónica. Intervenciones: Revisiones de tratamiento realizadas por el farmacéutico de atención primaria con posterior valoración de las propuestas de mejora, en reuniones presenciales con el médico de atención primaria y médico del centro residencial. Mediciones principales: Problemas relacionados con la medicación, tipos y resolución. Sexo, edad, número de medicamentos antes y después de la intervención. Subgrupos farmacológicos según la clasificación anatómica terapéutica química (ATC) y principios activos implicados en los PRM. Resultados: Se detectaron 1.425 PRM, con una media de 4,85 (DE: 3,33) PRM/paciente. El PRM más frecuente fue el error de conciliación (32,52%), seguido de pauta y posología (15,72%). De las 1425 propuestas de mejora, se aceptaron el 86,73%. Se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el número de fármacos después de la revisión (10,20) y antes de la revisión (12,29) con una diferencia de medias de 2,09 (IC 95%: 1,98-2,21; p

La aprobación del Estatuto de Autonomía de la Comunidad de Madrid supuso la culminación de un proceso sui generis de acceso al autogobierno en el sistema español de organización territorial del Estado. La Comunidad de Madrid es el único caso en el que la autonomía se construye sobre la base del descarte de opciones políticas, mediante el impulso de las instituciones centrales del Estado y como consecuencia de un pacto entre los principales partidos políticos del ámbito nacional. El trabajo analiza el rendimiento del sistema político regional a partir del estudio de su diseño institucional, así como de las dinámicas de representación para determinar la coherencia entre el diseño planteado y la cultura política de la sociedad madrileña.

The Aedes aegypti cadherin-like protein (Aae-Cad) and the membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase (Aae-mALP) are membrane proteins identified as putative receptors for the larvicidal Cry toxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis bacteria. Cry toxins are the most used toxins in the control of different agricultural pest and mosquitos. Despite the relevance of Aae-Cad and Aae-mALP as possible toxin-receptors in mosquitoes, previous efforts to establish a clear functional connection among them and Cry toxins activity have been relatively limited. In this study, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to generate knockout (KO) mutations of Aae-Cad and Aae-mALP. The Aae-mALP KO was successfully generated, in contrast to the Aae-Cad KO which was obtained only in females. The female-linked genotype was due to the proximity of aae-cad gene to the sex-determining loci (M:m). Both A. aegypti KO mutant populations were viable and their insect-development was not affected, although a tendency on lower egg hatching rate was observed. Bioassays were performed to assess the effects of these KO mutations on the susceptibility of A. aegypti to Cry toxins, showing that the Aae-Cad female KO or Aae-mALP KO mutations did not significantly alter the susceptibility of A. aegypti larvae to the mosquitocidal Cry toxins, including Cry11Aa, Cry11Ba, Cry4Ba, and Cry4Aa. These findings suggest that besides the potential participation of Aae-Cad and Aae-mALP as Cry toxin receptors in A. aegypti, additional midgut membrane proteins are involved in the mode of action of these insecticidal toxins.

El presente artículo describe una experiencia de formación universitaria a distancia, la cual se ha basado en los principios del diseño universal para el aprendizaje y la accesibilidad cognitiva para promover la inserción laboral de personas con discapacidad intelectual. El principal objetivo de esta experiencia formativa fue contribuir al desarrollo de competencias que ayudaran a estudiantes con discapacidad intelectual a avanzar en su actualización profesional para la inserción laboral en la Administración Pública española. Participaron 179 personas con discapacidad intelectual. Los resultados mostraron una tasa de éxito del 89 % y una tasa de abandono del 11 %. A través de un cuestionario ad hoc, se evaluó el grado de satisfacción de los diferentes elementos del diseño curricular de esta experiencia de aprendizaje a distancia. En particular, los participantes mostraron índices de satisfacción elevada con los contenidos seleccionados, los materiales y recursos multimedia disponibles en el aula virtual, así como con los posibles beneficios de la instrucción de estrategias de autorregulación emocional. Cabe concluir que el diseño curricular implementado ha sido muy satisfactorio y ha mejorado las habilidades para el empleo que propicien la inserción laboral de los estudiantes.

The transient melastatin receptor potential (TRPM) ion channel subfamily functions as cellular sensors and transducers of critical biological signal pathways by regulating ion homeostasis. Some members of TRPM have been cloned from cancerous tissues, and their abnormal expressions in various solid malignancies have been correlated with cancer cell growth, survival, or death. Recent evidence also highlights the mechanisms underlying the role of TRPMs in tumor epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), autophagy, and cancer metabolic reprogramming. These implications support TRPM channels as potential molecular targets and their modulation as an innovative therapeutic approach against cancer. Here, we discuss the general characteristics of the different TRPMs, focusing on current knowledge about the connection between TRPM channels and critical features of cancer. We also cover TRPM modulators used as pharmaceutical tools in biological trials and an indication of the only clinical trial with a TRPM modulator about cancer. To conclude, the authors describe the prospects for TRPM channels in oncology.

Vaccine-associated hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy (VAHL) has been reported as a common post-vaccination side effect, especially with mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. Most VAHL cases present normal or enlarged regional lymph nodes close to the injection site, usually with mild-moderate FDG (18 F-Fluorodeoxyglucose) uptake on FDG positron emission tomography (PET)/CT. Here, we describe the case of a 33-year-old woman with past history of Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma (CHL) who underwent follow-up FDG PET/CT 3 days (d) after the first dose of the adenovirus-vectored Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. FDG PET/CT showed unexpected small hypermetabolic cervical and abdominal lymph nodes in the same location as at the onset of the disease, suggesting radiological relapse. Considering temporal relationship and other cases of VAHL, a new image was performed 2 months later, which revealed decreased lymph nodes and normalization of FDG uptake. This case illustrates that the possibility of a false-positive should always be considered by physicians in this new context, even when hypermetabolic lymph nodes appear far from the vaccination site.

Resumen: En la siguiente investigación se propone la evolución de la práctica de las constelaciones literarias a través de los conceptos de multimodalidad y narrativas transmedia. Se realiza un análisis cuantitativo de dos experiencias concretas realizadas durante el curso académico 2019-2020 en la Universidad de Alicante, con el objetivo principal de desarrollar el concepto de intertextualidad entre nuestro alumnado. Se trabajan las constelaciones desde una perspectiva interdisciplinar, donde el uso de la tecnología es ineludible, para la publicación en abierto de las actividades a través de vídeos, presentaciones y blogs. Se han desarrollado diversos cuestionarios mixtos, con una fiabilidad adecuada, para comprobar los aprendizajes de la propuesta, con unos resultados excelentes. La temática de las constelaciones ha variado entre ambas experiencias, desde los pecados capitales a los personajes infantiles tradicionales, demostrando que las constelaciones pueden aplicarse con diversas temáticas y distintos objetivos educativos. La expansión transmedia de la práctica además ha permitido adaptar las constelaciones a los nuevos tiempos de docencia híbrida u online. Abstract: The following research proposes an evolution of the practice of literary constellations through the concepts of multimodality and transmedia narratives. A quantitative analysis of two specific experiences carried out during the academic year 2019-2020 at the University of Alicante is carried out, which confirm the possibilities of this practice in teacher training, with the main objective of developing the concept of intertextuality among our students. The constellations are worked on from an interdisciplinary perspective, where the use of technology is unavoidable, for the open publication of activities through videos, presentations and blogs. Various mixed questionnaires have been developed, with adequate reliability, to verify the learning of the proposal, with excellent results. The theme of the constellations has varied between the two experiences, from the deadly sins to traditional children's characters, showing that the constellations can be applied for varied themes and different educational purposes. The transmedia expansion of the practice has also made it possible to adapt the constellations to the new times of hybrid or online teaching.

Summary: ZRSR2 is a splicing factor involved in recognition of 3′-intron splice sites that is frequently mutated in myeloid malignancies and several tumors; however, the role of mutations of Zrsr2 in other tissues has not been analyzed. To explore the biological role of ZRSR2, we generated three Zrsr2 mutant mouse lines. All Zrsr2 mutant lines exhibited blood cell anomalies, and in two lines, oogenesis was blocked at the secondary follicle stage. RNA-seq of Zrsr2mu secondary follicles showed aberrations in gene expression and showed altered alternative splicing (AS) events involving enrichment of U12-type intron retention (IR), supporting the functional Zrsr2 action in minor spliceosomes. IR events were preferentially associated with centriole replication, protein phosphorylation, and DNA damage checkpoint. Notably, we found alterations in AS events of 50 meiotic genes. These results indicate that ZRSR2 mutations alter splicing mainly in U12-type introns, which may affect peripheral blood cells, and impede oogenesis and female fertility.

El proyecto parte del estudio y puesta en carga de una metodología de intervención, la recuperación de los espacios públicos de la ciudad de Málaga de manera que las actuaciones que se desarrollen y definan en el futuro planeamiento tendrán una repercusión directa en la población beneficiaria mejorando las carencias detectadas y potenciando las oportunidades asumidas como valores y herramientas de trabajo proyectual en la ciudad. Teniendo presente que uno de los principales retos a los que se enfrentan las ciudades actualmente es la rehabilitación de los centros históricos y su habitabilidad, nuestro proyecto de investigación centra su atención en la reconsideración de los espacios públicos donde tienen presencia aspectos no resueltos de movilidad, accesibilidad, problemas derivados de la gentrificación, sostenibilidad y donde entendemos que la arquitectura debe plantear una respuesta que trabaje en nuevas formas de habitar y vivir estos espacios.

Background: Inflammation is one of the mechanisms involved in heart failure (HF) pathophysiology. Thus, the acute phase reactant protein, orosomucoid, was associated with a worse post-discharge prognosis in de novo acute HF (AHF). However, the presence of anti-inflammatory adipokine, omentin, might protect and reduce the severity of the disease. We wanted to evaluate the value of omentin and orosomucoid combination for stratifying the risk of these patients.Methods and Results: Two independent cohorts of patients admitted for de novo AHF in two centers were included in the study (n = 218). Orosomucoid and omentin circulating levels were determined by ELISA at discharge. Patients were followed-up for 317 (3–575) days. A predictive model was determined for the primary endpoint, death, and/or HF readmission. Differences in survival were evaluated using a Log-rank test. According to cut-off values of orosomucoid and omentin, patients were classified as UpDown (high orosomucoid and low omentin levels), equal (both proteins high or low), and DownUp (low orosomucoid and high omentin levels). The Kaplan Meier determined a worse prognosis for the UpDown group (Long-rank test p = 0.02). The predictive model that includes the combination of orosomucoid and omentin groups (OROME) + NT-proBNP values achieved a higher C-index = 0.84 than the predictive model with NT-proBNP (C-index = 0.80) or OROME (C-index = 0.79) or orosomucoid alone (C-index = 0.80).Conclusion: The orosomucoid and omentin determination stratifies de novo AHF patients into the high, mild, and low risk of rehospitalization and/or death for HF. Its combination with NT-proBNP improves its predictive value in this group of patients.

Abstract Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell–related HLH/MAS is an unusual manifestation of severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS) with poor prognosis and a challenging diagnosis. The establishment of specific diagnosis criteria is essential, and the combination of several techniques for CAR T‐cell follow‐up, allows a more precise management of this complication.

Iron is the most abundant micronutrient in plant mitochondria, and it has a crucial role in biochemical reactions involving electron transfer. It has been described in Oryza sativa that Mitochondrial Iron Transporter (MIT) is an essential gene and that knockdown mutant rice plants have a decreased amount of iron in their mitochondria, strongly suggesting that OsMIT is involved in mitochondrial iron uptake. In Arabidopsis thaliana, two genes encode MIT homologues. In this study, we analyzed different AtMIT1 and AtMIT2 mutant alleles, and no phenotypic defects were observed in individual mutant plants grown in normal conditions, confirming that neither AtMIT1 nor AtMIT2 are individually essential. When we generated crosses between the Atmit1 and Atmit2 alleles, we were able to isolate homozygous double mutant plants. Interestingly, homozygous double mutant plants were obtained only when mutant alleles of Atmit2 with the T-DNA insertion in the intron region were used for crossings, and in these cases, a correctly spliced AtMIT2 mRNA was generated, although at a low level. Atmit1 Atmit2 double homozygous mutant plants, knockout for AtMIT1 and knockdown for AtMIT2, were grown and characterized in iron-sufficient conditions. Pleiotropic developmental defects were observed, including abnormal seeds, an increased number of cotyledons, a slow growth rate, pinoid stems, defects in flower structures, and reduced seed set. A RNA-Seq study was performed, and we could identify more than 760 genes differentially expressed in Atmit1 Atmit2. Our results show that Atmit1 Atmit2 double homozygous mutant plants misregulate genes involved in iron transport, coumarin metabolism, hormone metabolism, root development, and stress-related response. The phenotypes observed, such as pinoid stems and fused cotyledons, in Atmit1 Atmit2 double homozygous mutant plants may suggest defects in auxin homeostasis. Unexpectedly, we observed a possible phenomenon of T-DNA suppression in the next generation of Atmit1 Atmit2 double homozygous mutant plants, correlating with increased splicing of the AtMIT2 intron containing the T-DNA and the suppression of the phenotypes observed in the first generation of the double mutant plants. In these plants with a suppressed phenotype, no differences were observed in the oxygen consumption rate of isolated mitochondria; however, the molecular analysis of gene expression markers, AOX1a, UPOX, and MSM1, for mitochondrial and oxidative stress showed that these plants express a degree of mitochondrial perturbation. Finally, we could establish by a targeted proteomic analysis that a protein level of 30% of MIT2, in the absence of MIT1, is enough for normal plant growth under iron-sufficient conditions.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are soil ubiquitous bacteria. They produce a great variability of insecticidal proteins, where certain of these toxins are used worldwide for pest control. Through their adaptation to diverse ecosystems, certain Bt strains have acquired genetic mobile elements by horizontal transfer, harboring genes that encode for different virulent factors and pesticidal proteins (PP). Genomic characterization of Bt strains provides a valuable source of PP with potential biotechnological applications for pest control. In this work, we have sequenced the complete genome of the bacterium Bt GR007 strain that is toxic to Spodoptera frugiperda and Manduca sexta larvae. Four replicons (one circular chromosome and three megaplasmids) were identified. The two largest megaplasmids (pGR340 and pGR157) contain multiple genes that codify for pesticidal proteins: 10 cry genes (cry1Ab, cry1Bb, cry1Da, cry1Fb, cry1Hb, cry1Id, cry1Ja, cry1Ka, cry1Nb, and cry2Ad), two vip genes (vip3Af and vip3Ag), two binary toxin genes (vpa2Ac and vpb1Ca), five genes that codify for insecticidal toxin components (Tc’s), and a truncated cry1Bd-like gene. In addition, genes that codify for several virulent factors were also found in this strain. Proteomic analysis of the parasporal crystals of GR007 revealed that they are composed of eight Cry proteins. Further cloning of these genes for their individual expression in Bt acrystalliferous strain, by means of their own intrinsic promoter showed expression of seven Cry proteins. These proteins display differential toxicity against M. sexta and S. frugiperda larvae, where Cry1Bb showed to be the most active protein against S. frugiperda larvae and Cry1Ka the most active protein against M. sexta larvae.

Resumen: Objetivo: Aportar evidencias de la eficacia de una intervención comunitaria en salud a través de un programa de estimulación cognitiva (PEC) implementada con el paso del tiempo en mayores con deterioro cognitivo leve en la comunidad. Diseño: Seguimiento de un ensayo controlado aleatorizado (normas grupo CONSORT). Emplazamiento: Centro de salud San José Norte-Centro y Fundación La Caridad (Zaragoza). Participantes: Veintinueve personas ≥ 65 años, con 24-27 puntos en el MEC-35 que completaron el ensayo a los 48 meses, 15 aleatorizados en el grupo intervención y 14 en el grupo control. Intervenciones: Se realizaron 10 sesiones, 45 min/semana, durante 10 semanas, con el cuaderno rojo de activación mental que ejercita: memoria, orientación, lenguaje, praxis, gnosis, cálculo, percepción, razonamiento lógico, atención y funciones ejecutivas. Mediciones principales: MEC-35, Set-test, Barthel, Lawton-Brody, subescala de ansiedad Goldberg y Yesavage abreviado (GDS-15). Resultados: Analizando los incrementos sobre el nivel basal para MEC-35, el grupo intervención obtiene, de media: postintervención 3,14 puntos, a los 6 meses 3,76 puntos y a los 12 meses 2,26 puntos más que el grupo control, siendo estos incrementos estadísticamente significativos. A los 48 meses el grupo intervención sigue obteniendo 2 puntos más que el control, sin ser significativos. La intervención no mejoró el desempeño en fluidez verbal, actividades de la vida diaria ni estado de ánimo. Conclusiones: Nuestro PEC podría ser eficaz en la mejora de la cognición general, medida con el MEC-35, en postintervención, a los 6, 12 y 48 meses. No se evidencian mejoras en fluidez verbal, actividades de la vida diaria ni estado de ánimo.Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03831061. Abstract: Objective: To provide evidence about the efficacy of a community health intervention through a cognitive stimulation program at long term in older people with mild cognitive impairment. Design: Randomized controlled trial (CONSORT group norms). Location: San José Norte-Centro Primary Care Center and La Caridad Foundation (Zaragoza, Spain). Participants: Twenty-nine people over 65 years old with a 24-27 MEC score that completed 48 months follow up. They were randomized between the intervention group (15) and the control group (14). Interventions: The intervention was applied in 10 sessions of 45 min for 10 weeks using the red notebook tool for mental activation that works memory, orientation, language, praxis, gnosis, calculation, perception, logical reasoning, attention and executive functions. Main measurements: The main outcome variables were MEC-35, Set-test, Barthel index, Lawton-Brody scale, Goldberg anxiety scale and Yesavage geriatric depression scale short form. Results: Increases of the main result variable over the baseline level of MEC-35 were analyzed. On average, the intervention group obtained higher scores than control: 3.14 points post intervention, 3.76 points after 6 months and 2.26 points more than control group after 12 months. All the differences were statistically significant. After 48 months the intervention group obtained 2 points more than control group. The intervention did not improve verbal fluency, activity daily living and mood. Conclusions: Our cognitive stimulation program seems to improve cognitive performance, measured with the variable MEC-35 at post intervention, 6, 12 and 48 months. There is no evidence of improvement in verbal fluency, activity daily livings and mood.Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03831061.

Abstract Background Alternative splicing (AS) may play an important role in gonadal sex determination (GSD) in mammals. The present study was designed to identify differentially expressed isoforms and AS modifications accompanying GSD in mice. Results Using deep RNA-sequencing, we performed a transcriptional analysis of XX and XY gonads during sex determination on embryonic days 11 (E11) and 12 (E12). Analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEG) identified hundreds of genes related to GSD and early sex differentiation that may represent good candidates for sex reversal. Expression at time point E11 in males was significantly enriched in RNA splicing and mRNA processing Gene Ontology terms. Differentially expressed isoform analysis identified hundreds of specific isoforms related to GSD, many of which showed no differences in the DEG analysis. Hundreds of AS events were identified as modified at E11 and E12. Female E11 gonads featured sex-biased upregulation of intron retention (in genes related to regulation of transcription, protein phosphorylation, protein transport and mRNA splicing) and exon skipping (in genes related to chromatin repression) suggesting AS as a post-transcription mechanism that controls sex determination of the bipotential fetal gonad. Conclusion Our data suggests an important role of splicing regulatory mechanisms for sex determination in mice.

La reflexión teológica feminista tiene un poco más de cuarenta años, lo que ya permite el análisis de algunas pautas de su pensamiento. Dicha reflexión está condicionada por las corrientes filosóficas, las circunstancias mundiales y la reflexión teológica del momento histórico. Por ello, para encontrar la fuente de muchas ideas que han proyectado las mujeres sobre Dios, vamos a introducir las reflexiones sobre Dios de los movimientos feministas desde el siglo XIX, la crítica que recibieron, las grandes tendencias feministas diversas entre sí y lo que aportan a la cuestión de la imagen de Dios en la teología feminista.

Objective To evaluate whether a 4-month physical activity (PA) group program and visits to sociocultural organizations improve emotional state, social support levels and health-related quality of life in elderly individuals with depression and/or anxiety and/or loneliness. Methods This will be a multicentre, randomized, two-group clinical trial with a 1-year follow-up. Participants will be 150 primary care patients aged >64 years allocated equally to a control group and an intervention group. Inclusion criteria are Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) score ≥14 and/or General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale score ≥10 and/or Duke-UNC-11 scale score ≥32. The intervention group will participate in a 4-month group PA program. The program will comprise two walks per week and a monthly visit to a sociocultural facility. Results Measured outcomes are clinical remission of depression (BDI-II score

El propósito de este estudio es analizar las interrelaciones entre los procesos ejecutivos de la Memoria operativa (MO), la inteligencia fluida y la comprensión lectora, así como su capacidad predictiva respecto del rendimiento académico en Historia. Participaron 26 estudiantes de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria. Los resultados indican que las variables cognitivas correlacionan entre sí y con el rendimiento académico. Los análisis de regresión mostraron que la comprensión lectora es la variable cognitiva de alto nivel que mejor predice el rendimiento académico en dicha materia curricular. Asimismo, el trabajo pone de manifiesto la utilidad de las medidas de MO en ámbitos educativos.

Late-life cognitive decline ranges from the mildest cases of normal, age-related change to mild cognitive impairment to severe cases of dementia. Dementia is the largest global burden for the 21st century welfare and healthcare systems. The aim of this study was to analyze the neuropsychological constructs (temporal orientation (TO), spatial orientation (SO), fixation memory (FM), attention (A), calculation (C), short-term memory (STM), language (L), and praxis (P)), semantic fluency, level of functionality, and mood that reveal the greatest deficit in the different stages ranging from normal cognition (NC) to cognitive impairment in older adults in a primary healthcare setting. The study included 337 participants (102 men, 235 women), having a mean age of 74 ± 6 years. According to their scores on the Spanish version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MEC-35), subjects were divided into 4 groups: no deterioration (ND) (score 32-35), subtle cognitive impairment (SCI) (score 28-31), level deterioration (LD) (score 24-27) and moderate deterioration (MD) (score 20-23). The ND group revealed significant differences in TO, STM, C, A, L, P, and S-T as compared to the other groups. The MD group (in all the neuropsychological constructs) and the ND and SCI groups showed significant differences on the Yesavage geriatric depression scale (GDS-15). All except the FM neuropsychological construct were part of the MEC-35 prediction model and all of the regression coefficients were significant for these variables in the model. Furthermore, the highest average percentage of relative deterioration occurs between LD and MD and the greatest deterioration is observed in the STM for all groups, including A and TO for the LD and MD groups. Based on our findings, community programs have been implemented that use cognitive stimulation to prevent cognitive decline and to maintain the neuropsychological constructs.

Intestinal permeability to translocation of bacterial products is increased in cirrhosis. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) remain central to the interplay between the host and microbial milieu. We propose that Tregs are involved in promoting gut barrier integrity and a balanced interaction with gut microbiota–derived short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Carbon tetrachloride cirrhosis was induced in wild‐type and recombination activating gene 1 (Rag1)‐/‐ mice. Naive T cells and Treg cells were transferred into Rag1‐/‐ mice. Intestinal permeability was assessed in vivo after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) oral administration, and bacterial DNA presence was evaluated in mesenteric lymph nodes. Transcript and protein levels of tight‐junction (TJ) proteins were measured in colonic tissue. Intestinal T helper profile in response to Escherichia coli (E. coli) was determined by flow cytometry. SCFAs were measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in colonic content before and after E. coli challenge. Rag1‐/‐ mice showed significantly increased permeability to LPS and bacterial DNA translocation rate compared with control mice. Naive T and Treg cotransfer significantly reduced gut permeability to bacterial antigen translocation and restored TJ protein expression in Rag1‐/‐ mice. Naive T and Treg replenishment in Rag1‐/‐ mice restrained proinflammatory differentiation of intestinal lymphocytes in response to E. coli. The main SCFA concentration resulted in significant reduction in Rag1‐/‐ mice after E. coli administration but remained unaltered after naive T and Tregs cotransfer. The reduced expression of SCFA receptors induced by E. coli was reestablished following naive T and Treg reconstitution in Rag1‐/‐ mice. Conclusion: The restriction of gut permeability, local inflammatory differentiation, and loss of bacteria‐derived SCFAs foster the value of Tregs in preventing bacterial translocation in cirrhosis.

José Emilio Pacheco afirma que la poesía se realiza gracias al esfuerzo colectivo y anónimo de autores en todo idioma, y su práctica de traducción devuelve deudas que él siente que le deben a otros escritores, incluso sus propios traductores. Utilizo la teoría del don de Marcel Mauss como una metodología para interrogar las redes de la traducción en las que participó Pacheco y para resaltar las formas de traducción que son más recíprocas que unidireccionales.

Background and Objectives: Despite the scientific evidence of the positive effects of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is not still considered an evidence-based practice for this population. The proposed study will aim to evaluate the effects of a dog-assisted therapy program on gait, posture, and communication skills. Materials and Methods: A total of 24 adults with ASD will participate in this non-randomized controlled trial. The experimental group will involve 12 participants who will receive AAT for 10 weeks, at two sessions per week. The focus of these sessions will be conducting different activities and physical exercises, facilitated by dogs. The control group will receive treatment as usual. The outcome measures will be the ability to walk and climbing stairs, balance, risk of falls and communication skills. Conclusions: The role of dogs as facilitators of the movement may lead to relevant benefits in the gait, posture and communication skills of adults with ASD, improving their ability to perform activities of daily living.

Transition metal oxides constitute one of the most fruitful sources of materials with continuously increasing potential applications prompted by the expectations derived from the reduction of the particle size. The recent advances in transmission electron microscopy, because of the development of lenses, have made it possible to reach atomic resolution, which can provide answers regarding the performance of the transition metal nano-oxides. This critical information is related not only to the ability to study their microstructural characteristics but also their local composition and the oxidation state of the transition metal. Exploring these features is a well-known task in nano-oxides for energy and electronic technologies, but they are not so commonly used for elucidating the activity of these oxides for biomedical applications. Nevertheless, the identification at the atomic level of a certain dopant or the unambiguous determination of the oxidation state of a transition metal in a nano-oxide can be important questions to be answered in a certain biomedical application. In this work, we provide several examples in transition metal nano-oxides to show how atomic-resolution electron microscopy can be a key tool for its understanding.

Cry1A insecticidal toxins bind sequentially to different larval gut proteins facilitating oligomerization, membrane insertion and pore formation. Cry1Ac interaction with cadherin triggers oligomerization. However, a mutation in an ABC transporter gene (ABCC2) is linked to Cry1Ac resistance in Plutella xylostella. Cry1AcMod, engineered to lack helix α-1, was able to form oligomers without cadherinbinding and effectively countered Cry1Ac resistance linked to ABCC2. Here we analyzed Cry1Ac and Cry1AcMod binding and oligomerization by western blots using brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from a strain of P. xylostella susceptible to Cry1Ac (Geneva 88) and a strain with resistance to Cry1Ac (NO-QAGE) linked to an ABCC2 mutation. Resistance correlated with lack of specific binding and reduced oligomerization of Cry1Ac in BBMV from NO-QAGE. In contrast, Cry1AcMod bound specifically and still formed oligomers in BBMV from both strains. We compared association of pre-formed Cry1Ac oligomer, obtained by incubating Cry1Ac toxin with a Manduca sexta cadherin fragment, with BBMV from both strains. Our results show that pre-formed oligomers associate more efficiently with BBMV from Geneva 88 than with BBMV from NO-QAGE, indicating that the ABCC2 mutation also affects the association of Cry1Ac oligomer with the membrane. These data indicate, for the first time, that ABCC2 facilitates Cry1Ac oligomerization and oligomer membrane insertion in P. xylostella.

Schizophrenia (SZ) is associated with changes in the structure and function of several brain areas. Several findings suggest that these impairments are related to a dysfunction in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission in brain areas such as the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the hippocampus (HPC) and the primary auditory cortex (A1); however, it is still unclear how the GABAergic system is disrupted in these brain areas. Here, we examined the effect of ketamine (Ket) administration during late adolescence in rats on inhibition in the mPFC-, ventral HPC (vHPC), and A1. We observe that Ket treatment reduced the expression of the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV) and the GABA-producing enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) as well as decreased inhibitory synaptic efficacy in the mPFC. In addition, Ket-treated rats performed worse in executive tasks that depend on the integrity and proper functioning of the mPFC. Conversely, we do not find such changes in vHPC or A1. Together, our results provide strong experimental support for the hypothesis that during adolescence, the function of the mPFC is more susceptible than that of HPC or A1 to NMDAR hypofunction, showing apparent structure specificity. Thus, the impairment of inhibitory circuitry in mPFC could be a convergent primary site of SZ-like behavior during the adulthood.

Three experiments tracked participants’ eye-movements to examine the time course of comprehension of the dual meaning of counterfactuals, such as “if there had been oranges then there would have been pears.” Participants listened to conditionals while looking at images in the visual world paradigm, including an image of oranges and pears that corresponds to the counterfactual’s conjecture, and one of no oranges and no pears that corresponds to its presumed facts, to establish at what point in time they consider each one. The results revealed striking individual differences: some participants looked at the negative image and the affirmative one, and some only at the affirmative image. The first experiment showed that participants who looked at the negative image increased their fixation on it within half a second. The second experiment showed they do so even without explicit instructions, and the third showed they do so even for printed words.

A growing number of higher education institutions have adopted tools to promote mobile learning. However, studies into the driving factors of its adoption are insufficient. This article identifies the aspects that have an effect on the adoption of mobile learning (m-learning) among university students. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) and technology acceptance model (TAM) have been shown to be valid and powerful models in the research on the adoption of learning technologies. Based on TPB and TAM, we propose a model to explain how perceptions influence m-learning adoption among Colombian university students. To confirm the acceptability of the model, a self-administered questionnaire was applied to 878 undergraduate university students from the Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano (ITM), a higher education institution in Colombia The results suggest that all of the constructs of TPB and TAM have a moderate impact on the intention to adopt m-learning. Specifically, perceived usefulness and attitude have a significant influence on students’ acceptance of m-learning. These results can stimulate future research and promote an effective diffusion of m-learning in developing countries.

Solving arithmetic word problems is a complex task that requires individuals to activate their working memory resources, as well as the correct performance of the underlying executive processes involved in order to inhibit semantic biases or superficial responses caused by the problem’s statement. This paper describes a study carried out with 135 students of Secondary Obligatory Education, each of whom solved 5 verbal arithmetic problems: 2 consistent problems, whose mathematical operation (add/subtract) and the verbal statement of the problem coincide, and 3 inconsistent problems, whose required operation is the inverse of the one suggested by the verbal term(s). Measures of reading comprehension, visual–spatial reasoning and deductive reasoning were also obtained. The results show the relationship between arithmetic problems and cognitive measures, as well as the ability of these problems to predict academic performance. Regression analyses confirmed that arithmetic word problems were the only measure with significant power of association with academic achievement in both History/Geography (β = 0.25) and Mathematics (β = 0.23).

La neuropatía óptica hereditaria de Leber es una enfermedad genética mitocondrial que típicamente produce ceguera bilateral en adultos jóvenes varones. Además de la mutación del ADN mitocondrial son necesarios otros factores genéticos y ambientales para el desarrollo de la enfermedad. En la actualidad no existe un tratamiento eficaz para la neuropatía óptica hereditaria de Leber, pero el consejo genético en portadores asintomáticos es importante. Presentamos el caso clínico de un paciente de 23 años de edad que refiere pérdida de agudeza visual central aguda unilateral que se convierte en bilateral en semanas. La exploración del fondo de ojo (tortuosidad vascular peripapilar, telangiectasias e hiperemia papilar), la angiografía con fluoresceína (con ausencia de exudación) y el engrosamiento de la capa de fibras nerviosas nos hacen sospechar la enfermedad. El test genético molecular confirma la neuropatía óptica hereditaria de Leber al encontrar la mutación G11778A en homoplasmia. A pesar del tratamiento con idebenona y suplementos vitamínicos la enfermedad evoluciona a atrofia papilar bilateral. El futuro parece estar en la terapia génica, actualmente en investigación.

Se pretende conocer las creencias de los estudiantes de maestro de educación infantil acerca de la multiculturalidad, y comprender cómo se desarrolla la competencia intercultural en el proceso de formación inicial en la Facultad de Educación de Albacete de la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM, España). Los participantes fueron 172 estudiantes. El diseño se enmarca en el paradigma de Mixed Methods, definido como la integración sistemática de métodos de investigación cualitativos y cuantitativos en un estudio. A tal efecto, para realizar la investigación se elaboró un cuestionario de 25 preguntas, cuyos resultados se analizaron con el SPSS 20.0. Paralelamente, se construyeron los guiones de las entrevistas individuales y de los grupos de discusión, cuyo análisis fue efectuado con el Atlas.ti 6. La validez y fiabilidad quedaron garantizadas con técnicas como la revisión teórica, la aplicación piloto, el juicio de expertos y la aplicación del Alfa de Cronbach (0,861). Los resultados mostraron que la formación de la competencia intercultural de los futuros maestros de educación infantil fue deficiente. Según los estudiantes, el plan de estudios no mejoró la competencia intercultural cognitiva, pedagógica y emotiva, pues al final de los estudios tenían prejuicios y estereotipos culturales negativos hacia las personas extranjeras, que durante el plan de estudios solo consiguieron suavizarlos, pero no eliminarlos.

Anxiety and school fears are relatively frequent in childhood. Psychology and education professionals need to have assessment instruments for screening for school anxiety in schools. This study aimed to develop, adapt, and examine the reliability and validity evidence of the School Anxiety Inventory for Primary Education (SAI-PE) scores. Using random cluster sampling, a sample of 843 Spanish students (51.7% girls), ages ranging from 8 to 12 years (M = 10.03, SD = 1.25), was selected from public and concerted schools. The content validity of the SAI-PE scores was analyzed through experts' judgment and students' assessment of their comprehension of the instrument's items. Exploratory and confirmatory factorial analyses support the validity of the SAI-PE scores. The results revealed a multifactorial structure for the scores of anxiety reactions (cognitive, psychophysiological, and behavioral) and school situations scores (school punishment, victimization, social, and academic evaluation). The study conclusions reinforce the importance of having instruments that assess the complexity of emotional responses such as school anxiety, favoring its early detection and evaluating the effectiveness of preventive and/or therapeutic programs in schools.

Cry proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis are pore-forming toxins that disrupt the membrane integrity of insect midgut cells. The structure of such pore is unknown, but it has been shown that domain I is responsible for oligomerization, membrane insertion and pore formation activity. Specifically, it was proposed that some N-terminal α-helices are lost, leading to conformational changes that trigger oligomerization. We designed a series of mutants to further analyze the molecular rearrangements at the N-terminal region of Cry1Ab toxin that lead to oligomer assembly. For this purpose, we introduced Cys residues at specific positions within α-helices of domain I for their specific labeling with extrinsic fluorophores to perform Föster resonance energy transfer analysis to fluorescent labeled Lys residues located in Domains II–III, or for disulfide bridges formation to restrict mobility of conformational changes. Our data support that helix α-1 of domain I is cleaved out and swings away from the toxin core upon binding with Manduca sexta brush border membrane vesicles. That movement of helix α-2b is also required for the conformational changes involved in oligomerization. These observations are consistent with a model proposing that helices α-2b and α-3 form an extended helix α-3 necessary for oligomer assembly of Cry toxins.

It is well known that insect larval midgut cadherin protein serves as a receptor of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crystal Cry1Ac or Cry1Ab toxins, since structural mutations and downregulation of cad gene expression are linked with resistance to Cry1Ac toxin in several lepidopteran insects. However, the role of Spodoptera frugiperda cadherin protein (SfCad) in the mode of action of Bt toxins remains elusive. Here, we investigated whether SfCad is involved in susceptibility to Cry1Ab or Cry1Fa toxins. In vivo, knockout of the SfCad gene by CRISPR/Cas 9 did not increase tolerance to either of these toxins in S. frugiperda larvae. In vitro cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that cultured insect TnHi5 cells expressing GFP-tagged SfCad did not increase susceptibility to activated Cry1Ab or Cry1Fa toxins. In contrast, expression of another well recognized Cry1A receptor in this cell line, the ABCC2 transporter, increased the toxicity of both Cry1Ab and Cry1Fa toxins, suggesting that SfABCC2 functions as a receptor of these toxins. Finally, we showed that the toxin-binding region of SfCad did not bind to activated Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, nor Cry1Fa. All these results support that SfCad is not involved in the mode of action of Cry1Ab or Cry1Fa toxins in S. frugiperda.

Hepatic immune function is compromised during cirrhosis. This study investigated the immune features of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) in two experimental models of cirrhosis. Dendritic cells, hepatic macrophages, and LSECs were isolated from carbon tetrachloride and bile duct-ligated rats. Gene expression of innate receptors, bacterial internalization, co-stimulatory molecules induction, and CD4+ T cell activation and differentiation were evaluated. Induced bacterial peritonitis and norfloxacin protocols on cirrhotic rats were also carried out. LSECs demonstrated an active immunosurveillance profile, as shown by transcriptional modulation of different scavenger and cell-adhesion genes, and their contribution to bacterial internalization. LSECs significantly increased their expression of CD40 and CD80 and stimulated CD4+ T cell activation marker CD71 in both models. The pro-inflammatory Th17 subset was expanded in CCl4-derived LSECs co-cultures. In the bile duct ligation (BDL) model, CD4+ T cell differentiation only occurred under induced bacterial peritonitis conditions. Differentiated pro-inflammatory Th cells by LSECs in both experimental models were significantly reduced with norfloxacin treatment, whereas Foxp3 tolerogenic Th CD4+ cells were expanded. Conclusion: LSECs’ participation in the innate-adaptive immune progression, their ability to stimulate pro-inflammatory CD4+ T cells expansion during liver damage, and their target role in norfloxacin-induced immunomodulation granted a specific competence to this cell population in cirrhosis.

El artículo dará a conocer la propuesta de innovación pedagógica "Exprésafe: Siguiendo a Jesús en las Redes", presentando sus fundamentos y analizando su diseño e implementación piloto realizada con estudiantes de Enseñanza Media, que incluyó el uso de redes sociales para comprender el significado de la experiencia religiosa de los estudiantes desde la perspectiva juvenil, y con el desarrollo de la dimensión trascendente de ellos, a través de un itinerario formativo espiritual b-learning. Finalmente, se comparten reflexiones de la experiencia de diseño e implementación destacando sus implicancias en el ámbito escolar, aportando aprendizajes para quienes deseen implementar propuestas similares.

Este artículo se centra en las traducciones de Augusto de Campos en las cuales, al integrar algunos poetas hispanoamericanos con la poética brasileña, destacan los aspectos más lingüísticamente experimentales de la tradición poética hispanoamericana. Campos aplica técnicas de fragmentación y de negación en sus intraduções, como él llama a sus traducciones creativas. A partir del análisis de los poemas que tradujo de varios poetas hispanoamericanos, modernistas y vanguardistas, demuestro que la selección de estas obras tiende un puente entre tradiciones poéticas divergentes de América Latina e invita a los lectores a imaginar una trayectoria histórica distinta para la poesía experimental pan-latinoamericana. La tradición inventada a través de estas traducciones resulta ser más inclusiva de la poética brasileña y acaba por soslayar el momento surrealista para pasar de la experimentación temprana del lenguaje de vanguardia directamente a la poesía concreta.

Holm oak (Quercus ilex) is the most important and representative species of the Mediterranean forest and of the Spanish agrosilvo-pastoral “dehesa” ecosystem. Despite its environmental and economic interest, Holm oak is an orphan species whose biology is very little known, especially at the molecular level. In order to increase the knowledge on the chemical composition and metabolism of this tree species, the employment of a holistic and multi-omics approach, in the Systems Biology direction would be necessary. However, for orphan and recalcitrant plant species, specific analytical and bioinformatics tools have to be developed in order to obtain adequate quality and data-density before to coping with the study of its biology. By using a plant sample consisting of a pool generated by mixing equal amounts of homogenized tissue from acorn embryo, leaves, and roots, protocols for transcriptome (NGS-Illumina), proteome (shotgun LC-MS/MS), and metabolome (GC-MS) studies have been optimized. These analyses resulted in the identification of around 62629 transcripts, 2380 protein species, and 62 metabolites. Data are compared with those reported for model plant species, whose genome has been sequenced and is well annotated, including Arabidopsis, japonica rice, poplar, and eucalyptus. RNA and protein sequencing favored each other, increasing the number and confidence of the proteins identified and correcting erroneous RNA sequences. The integration of the large amount of data reported using bioinformatics tools allows the Holm oak metabolic network to be partially reconstructed: from the 127 metabolic pathways reported in KEGG pathway database, 123 metabolic pathways can be visualized when using the described methodology. They included: carbohydrate and energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The TCA cycle was the pathway most represented with 5 out of 10 metabolites, 6 out of 8 protein enzymes, and 8 out of 8 enzyme transcripts. On the other hand, gaps, missed pathways, included metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides and lipid metabolism. The multi-omics resource generated in this work will set the basis for ongoing and future studies, bringing the Holm oak closer to model species, to obtain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypes of interest (productive, tolerant to environmental cues, nutraceutical value) and to select elite genotypes to be used in restoration and reforestation programs, especially in a future climate change scenario.

Higher-order thinking abilities such as abstract reasoning and meaningful school learning occur sequentially. The fulfillment of these tasks demands that people activate and use all of their working memory resources in a controlled and supervised way. The aims of this work were: (a) to study the interplay between two new reasoning measures, one mathematical (Cognitive Reflection Test) and the other verbal (Deductive Reasoning Test), and a third classical visuo-spatial reasoning measure (Raven Progressive Matrices Test); and (b) to investigate the relationship between these measures and academic achievement. Fifty-one 4th grade secondary school students participated in the experiment and completed the three reasoning tests. Academic achievement measures were the final numerical scores in seven basic subjects. The results demonstrated that cognitive reflection, visual, and verbal reasoning are intimately related and predicts academic achievement. This work confirms that abstract reasoning constitutes the most important higher-order cognitive ability that underlies academic achievement. It also reveals the importance of dual processes, verbal deduction and metacognition in ordinary teaching and learning at school.

Solutions in the field of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) do not generally use standards to implement a communication interface between sensors and actuators. This makes these applications isolated solutions because it is so difficult to integrate them into new or existing systems. The objective of this research was to design and implement a prototype with a standardized interface for sensors and actuators to facilitate the integration of different solutions in the field of AAL. Our work is based on the roadmap defined by AALIANCE, using motes with TinyOS telosb, 6LoWPAN, sensors, and the IEEE 21451 standard protocol. This prototype allows one to upgrade sensors to a smart status for easy integration with new applications and already existing ones. The prototype has been evaluated for autonomy and performance. As a use case, the prototype has been tested in a serious game previously designed for people with mobility problems, and its advantages and disadvantages have been analysed.

Background and objective: cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the most common complications in transplant patients, which can lead to multiple organ failure. The 80-90% of patients are cured with intravenous treatment standard (ganciclovir), or its oral prodrug (valganciclovir). In case there is no answer, we have alternatively another antiviral, foscarnet. A small number of patients do not respond to this, having a bad prognosis. The aim is to describe the case of a double lung transplant for cystic fibrosis, and recurrent CMV infection in which the use of leflunomide gets lower and even reach undetectable viral load. Description of case: woman, 22 year old, double lung transplant for cystic fibrosis in March 2014. The CMV serology performed was positive in the donor and negative in the recipient. Controls viral load during prophylaxis with valganciclovir were negative in the receiver until the 6th month after transplantation, at which viral load was detected in controls (2 090 IU/ml). The patient was admitted to our hospital to receive intravenous treatment with ganciclovir, after one month with intravenous therapy viral load persisted positive (42 400 IU/ml). One study of resistance showed that was resistant to ganciclovir, so began treatment with intravenous foscarnet. This drug achieved negativizar viral load, so the treatment was discontinued, continuing with fortnightly controls viral load. After two months without treatment, viral load increased to 13 665 IU/ml, why was requested to Pharmacy Service the off-label use of leflunomide, with the intention that use oral therapy, instead of intravenous therapy. The patient was treated with valganciclovir until have the authorization of use of leflunomide, although unanswered, since in March 2015, at the start of leflunomide treatment the patient had a viral load of 17 344 IU/ml. The initial regimen was 100 mg of leflunomide daily for the first five days, followed by 20 mg every 12 hours. After fifteen days of treatment viral load had fallen to 531 IU/ml, becoming undetectable in one month. After four months of treatment the patient remains with undetectable viral load without having any adverse effect associated with it. Conclusion: our case is an example where the use of leflunomide in CMV infection resistant to other therapies is an effective and convenient alternative for patients because it keeps undetectable viral load with an oral therapy without having to enter the hospital for intravenous treatment

En el presente ensayo se estudia la relación entre la correspondencia epistolar de Ernestina de Champourcin y Carmen Conde con la simultánea escritura de sus poemas. A la luz del concepto de habitación propia como espacio imprescindible y necesario para la creación literaria expresado por Virginia Woolf en A Room of One’s Own, las cartas sirven como habitación propia donde ambas poetas pretenden conseguir su autenticidad estética coartada por la sociedad patriarcal en los comienzos del siglo XX en España. La presencia del interlocutor, el desdoblamiento del yo poético y los poemas metapoéticos confluyen en la obligación por parte de la crítica de posicionar el epistolario de las poetas en primer plano, ya que éste sirve como taller y espacio libre para el desarrollo de la estética de las poetas.

Snakebite envenomation is a life-threatening disease that was recently re-included as a neglected tropical disease (NTD), affecting millions of people in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Improvement in the therapeutic approaches to envenomation is required to palliate the morbidity and mortality effects of this NTD. The specific therapeutic treatment for this NTD uses snake antivenom immunoglobulins. Unfortunately, access to these vital drugs is limited, principally due to their cost. Different ethnic groups in the affected regions have achieved notable success in treatment for centuries using natural sources, especially plants, to mitigate the effects of snake envenomation. The ethnopharmacological approach is essential to identify the potential metabolites or derivatives needed to treat this important NTD. Here, the authors describe specific therapeutic snakebite envenomation treatments and conduct a review on different strategies to identify the potential agents that can mitigate the effects of the venoms. The study also covers an increased number of literature reports on the ability of natural sources, particularly plants, to treat snakebites, along with their mechanisms, drawbacks and future perspectives.

Marine organisms are recognized as a source of compounds with interesting biological activities. Vibrio neocaledonicus has been reported on for its high effectiveness against corrosion in metals but it has been little studied for its chemical and biological activities. In this study, four compounds were isolated from V. neocaledonicus: indole (1); 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde (2); 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3) and Cyclo (-Pro-Tyr) (4); using a bioassay-guided method, since in a previous study it was found that the ethyl acetate extract was active on the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE), alpha-glucosidase (AG) and xanthine oxidase (XO). The inhibitory activities of the three compounds against AChE, AG and XO was also evaluated. In addition, the enzymatic inhibitory activity of indole to the toxins from the venom of Bothrops asper was tested. Results showed that indole exhibited strong inhibitory activity to AG (IC50 = 18.65 ± 1.1 μM), to AChE, and XO (51.3% and 44.3% at 50 μg/mL, respectively). 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde displayed strong activity to XO (IC50 = 13.36 ± 0.39 μM). 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde showed moderate activity to XO (50.75% at 50 μg/mL) and weak activity to AChE (25.7% at 50 μg/mL). Furthermore, indole showed a significant in vitro inhibition to the coagulant effect induced by 1.0 μg of venom. The findings were supported by molecular docking. This is the first comprehensive report on the chemistry of V. neocaledonicus and the bioactivity of its metabolites.

Background: the Galician Health Service established indications and priority levels (I = fast track, II = preferential, III = normal) for colonoscopy, according to the risk of colorectal cancer and significant colonic lesions detection with access from primary health care. Our aim is to show the results of the implementation. Methods: we included colonoscopies requested in symptomatic patients from June to October 2012 in a prospective observational cross sectional study. We collected health care level (primary, secondary), priority, appropriateness to the established criteria, wait times (from colonoscopy application and initial consultation) and diagnostic yield for colorectal cancer and/or significant colonic lesion. We compared health care levels in priorities I and II. Results: 425 colonoscopies were included (I = 221, II = 141, III = 63). The appropriateness rate to the protocol was 67.5 %. Priority levels were significantly associated to wait times (days) from application (I = 8.7 ± 8.9, II = 50 ± 20.3, III = 80.2 ± 32.2; p < 0.001) and initial consultation (I = 32.2 ± 38, II = 74.5 ± 44.2, III = 128.5 ± 47.4; p < 0.001), and with colorectal cancer (I = 20.1 %, II = 19.1 %, III = 4.8 %, p < 0.001) and significant colonic lesion (I = 35.3 %, II = 34 %, III = 19 %, p = 0.002) detection rates. In priority I and II, 21.8 % of colonoscopies were requested from primary health care. Referral form primary health care reduced wait times from initial consultation to colonoscopy (primary = 29.3 ± 26, secondary = 55.2 ± 48.6, p < 0.001). Instead, colorectal cancer (OR 2.41, 95 % CI 1.31-4.42) and significant colonic lesion (OR 1.88, 95 % CI 1.13-3.15) detection rate was increased. Conclusions: Galician Health Service priority levels are significantly associated with colorectal cancer and significant colonic lesion detection. Referrals to colonoscopy from primary health care reduce waiting times and increase diagnostic yield.

This paper presents an update of DasherUS, a predictive text system controlled by an accelerometer. The DasherUS software can be installed in any computer and it becomes faster with its use. Thanks to the calibration procedure included, user can put the sensor on any part of the body and, in a few steps, the system is able to adapt to the user mobility. In contrast to the previous version, the text can be now sent to any application that is running at the same moment of using DasherUS, without replacing any other application the user likes to utilize. Other improvements of the system will help us to polish DasherUS much better, carrying us closer to our objective: the guarantee that no one will be deprived of the right to express what feels any time anywhere.

Las infecciones trasmitidas sexualmente constituyen un grave problema de salud a nivel mundial, la prevención y promoción de salud rebasa los marcos de la salud para ser un problema y una responsabilidad de todos los sectores de la sociedad. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal en el Consejo Popular Capitán San Luís durante el año 2010, con el objetivo de determinar el nivel de conocimientos sobre estas enfermedades, para diseñar una estrategia de intervención educativa en ITS-VIH/SIDA. El universo estuvo constituido por la población del Consejo Popular antes mencionado y la muestra seleccionada al azar por 136 personas de ambos sexos en las edades comprendidas entre 15 - 49 años. La información se obtuvo a través de la aplicación de un cuestionario, y a partir de los resultados obtenidos, se diseñó la estrategia de intervención educativa. Los resultados fueron llevados a tablas para realizar un análisis. Se aplicó la estadística descriptiva (números absolutos y porcientos). La población estudiada conoce que la principal vía de transmisión de las ITS y el VIH/SIDA son las relaciones sexuales, y reconoce las ventajas del uso del condón, pero sólo un escaso número de la muestra estudiada lo utilizan, lo que coincide con la baja percepción del riesgo que tiene esta población de contraer una de estas enfermedades. Todos estos elementos en cuanto a los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas, permitió diseñar la estrategia de intervención educativa en ITS y VIH/SIDA con acciones de información, educación y comunicación.Sexually-transmitted infections constitute a serious health problem throughout the entire world, prevention and promotion of health must go beyond health frameworks to a responsibility of all the sectors of society. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out at "Capitan San Luis" council during 2010 with the purpose of determining knowledge levels about these sexually-transmitted infections to design an educational strategy (STI/HIV/AIDS). The target group involved all the population of the council already mentioned, and the sample 136 that was taken at random having both sexes, including people from 15 to 49 years old. The information was collected by means of the application of a questionnaire, designing an educational strategy from the results obtained, showing these results in tables to be analyzed by means of the descriptive statistics (absolute numbers and percentages). The population under study knew the main transmission ways of STI/HIV/AIDS, mainly through sexual relations; they recognized the benefits of condoms, but only a few of the sample under study use them, which matched with the low risk perception this population showed concerning these transmittable diseases. All these elements, regarding knowledge, attitudes and practices, allowed the design of an educational strategy to prevent STI/HIV/AIDS with information, education and communication actions.