Higher versus lower nut consumption and changes in cognitive performance over two years in a population at risk of cognitive decline: a cohort study

This work was supported by the official Spanish Institutions for funding scientific biomedical research, CIBER Fisiopatologia de la Obesidad y Nutricio?n (CIBEROBN) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) , through the Fondo de Investigacion para la Salud (FIS) , which is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (6 coordinated FIS projects leaded by JS-S and JoV, including the following projects: PI13/00673, PI13/00492, PI13/00272, PI13/01123, PI13/00462, PI13/00233, PI13/02184, PI13/00728, PI13/01090, PI13/01056, PI14/01722, PI14/00636, PI14/00618, PI14/00696, PI14/01206, PI14/01919, PI14/00853, PI14/01374, PI14/00972, PI14/00728, PI14/01471, PI16/00473, PI16/00662, PI16/01873, PI16/01094, PI16/00501, PI16/00533, PI16/00381, PI16/00366, PI16/01522, PI16/01120, PI17/00764, PI17/01183, PI17/00855, PI17/01347, PI17/00525, PI17/01827, PI17/00532, PI17/00215, PI17/01441, PI17/00508, PI17/01732, PI17/00926, PI19/00957, PI19/00386, PI19/00309, PI19/01032, PI19/00576, PI19/00017, PI19/01226, PI19/00781, PI19/01560, PI19/01332, PI20/01802, PI20/00138, PI20/01532, PI20/00456, PI20/00339, PI20/00557, PI20/00886, PI20/01158) ; the Especial Action Project entitled: Implementacion y evaluacion de una intervencion intensiva sobre la actividad fisica Cohorte PREDIMED-Plus grant and the Recercaixa (number 2013ACUP00194) grant to JS-S; grants from the European Research Council (Advanced Research Grant 2014-2019; agreement #340918) ; grants from the Consejeria de Salud de la Junta de Andalucia (PI0458/2013, PS0358/2016, PI0137/2018) ; the PROMETEO/2017/017 and PROMETEO/2021/021 grants from the Conselleria de Innovacio?n, Universidades, Ciencia y Sociedad digital de la Generalitat Valenciana; Grant PID2019-108858RB-I00 funded by AEI 10.13039/501100011033 and by "ERDF A way of making Europe"; the SEMERGEN grant; the AICO/2021/347 grants from the Generalitat Valenciana. This research was also partially funded by EU-H2020 Grants (Eat2beNICE/H2020-SFS-2016-2) ; and the Horizon 2020 PRIME study (Prevention and Remediation of Insulin Multimorbidity in Europe; grant agreement #847879) . JN is supported by a predoctoral grant from Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades (FPU 20/00385) . SKN is supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) . JS-S, the senior author of this paper, was partially supported by ICREA under the ICREA Academia program. None of the funding sources took part in the design,collection, analysis, interpretation of the data, writing the report, or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.Background: Tree nuts and peanuts (henceforth, nuts) are nutrient-dense foods rich in neuroprotective components; thus, their consumption could benefit cognitive health. However, evidence to date is limited and inconsistent regarding the potential benefits of nuts for cognitive function.Objective: To prospectively evaluate the association between nut consumption and 2-y changes in cognitive performance in older adults at cognitive decline risk.Methods: A total of 6,630 participants aged 55 to 75 y (mean age 65.0 & PLUSMN;4.9 y, 48.4% women) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome completed a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests at baseline and a 2-y follow-up. Composite cognitive scores were used to assess global, general, attention, and executive function domains. Nut consumption was categorized as 1 to 3 to 7 servings/wk (1 serving=30 g). Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were fitted to assess associations between baseline nut consumption and 2-y cognitive changes.Results: Nut consumption was positively associated with 2-y changes in general cognitive function (P-trend 3 to 7 servings/wk showed more favorable changes in general cognitive performance (& beta; z-score [95% CI] = 0.06 [0.00,0.12] and 0.13 [0.06,0.20], respectively). No significant changes were observed in the multivariableadjusted models for other cognitive domains assessed.Conclusion: Frequent nut consumption was associated with a smaller decline in general cognitive performance over 2 y in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. Randomized clinical trials to verify our findings are warranted.Official Spanish InstitutionsInstituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) , Fondo de Investigacion para la Salud (FIS) - European Regional Development Fund PI13/00673, PI13/00492, PI13/00272, PI13/01123, PI13/00462, PI13/00233, PI13/02184, PI13/00728, PI13/01090, PI13/01056, PI14/01722, PI14/00636, PI14/00618, PI14/00696, PI14/01206, PI14/01919, PI14/00853, PI14/01374, PI14/00972, PI14/00728, PI14/01471, PI16/00473, PI16/00662, PI16/01873, PI16/01094, PI16/00501, PI16/00533, PI16/00381, PI16/00366, PI16/01522, PI16/01120, PI17/00764, PI17/01183, PI17/00855, PI17/01347, PI17/00525, PI17/01827, PI17/00532, PI17/00215, PI17/01441, PI17/00508, PI17/01732, PI17/00926, PI19/00957, PI19/00386, PI19/00309, PI19/01032, PI19/00576, PI19/00017, PI19/01226, PI19/00781, PI19/01560, PI19/01332, PI20/01802, PI20/00138, PI20/01532, PI20/00456, PI20/00339, PI20/00557, PI20/00886, PI20/01158La Caixa Foundation 2013ACUP00194Junta de Andalucía PI0458/2013, PS0358/2016, PI0137/2018, PROMETEO/2017/017Conselleria de Innovación, Universidades PID2019-108858RB-I00, AICO/2021/347Center for Forestry Research & Experimentation (CIEF) EU-H2020: Eat2beNICE/H2020-SFS-2016-2Horizon 2020 PRIME study 847879Spanish Government FPU 20/00385Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades FPU 20/00385Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)ICREA under the ICREA Academia progra

Evaluation of Lactobacillus Coryniformis K8 Consumption by Health Care Workers Exposed to COVID-19 (LactoCor2 Project): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Acknowledgments We thank all participants for their valuable contributions. We would especially like to thank the managing directors of the San Cecilio and Virgen de las Nieves University Hospitals.Background: Lactobacillus coryniformis K8 CECT5711 has immune-modulating properties, enhances the immune response to viral antigens leading to the production of specific antibodies, and has anti-inflammatory activity, which may help to prevent uncontrolled inflammatory processes leading to respiratory and other organ failures. Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of the consumption of a probiotic strain on the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in health personnel who carry out their professional work among patients with infection or suspected infection by SARS-CoV-2. Methods: This is a double-blind randomized clinical trial in which the experimental group will receive a capsule of L coryniformis K8 per day (3×109 colony former units/day), and the control group will receive a daily placebo capsule consisting of maltodextrin. A sample size of 314 volunteers was calculated. Volunteers must meet the following inclusion criteria: older than 20 years and active health personnel caring for patients with COVID-19, including all professionals such as medical doctors, nurses, and caretakers at the 2 referral hospitals that treat patients with COVID-19. The main outcome of the clinical trial will be the incidence of symptomatic infection by SARS-CoV-2 in personnel who care for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Results: The study had to be extended to the 2 referral hospitals that treat patients with COVID-19 in the province of Granada (Andalusia, Spain); Hospital San Cecilio and Hospital Virgen de las Nieves. A total of 255 individuals met the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to one of the 2 groups. Conclusions: The results of this randomized controlled trial will provide valuable information regarding the administration of L coryniformis K8 against COVID-19, including whether there are fewer infectious processes due to this virus or, in case of occurrence, whether the disease is milder in participants taking the probiotic strain

Cómo integrar Design Thinking en el Ciclo de Vida de Verificación y Validación de Software para Simuladores de Vuelo

In order to ensure the Flight Simulator´s functionality, this article exposes the application of the “Design Thinking” Methodology. This will lead to provide more creative and innovative solutions during the Verification and Validation process in the Flight Simulator Software´s Life Cycle. The application of this method in the first stages of the process allows an active and early interaction with user´s needs, increasing the building of solutions and the identification of needs, heighten the final product´s standards. It is important to ensure quality in the software development of flight´s simulators, due to its application is crucial and essential to the air defense of our country. So as to improve the aforementioned process, Design Thinking works with three main scenarios: Ideation, Inspiration and Implementation. The main objective of this article is to integrate these scenarios with the Verification and Validation of the Software´s Life Cycle and develop a new way to test software, including the user as a strategic source. It is expected that the results will contribute to create high quality products being these vital assets for the pilot´s training process who daily assume the challenge of guarding the Argentine sky.  Este artículo presenta la aplicación de la Metodología Design Thinking para dar una solución creativa e innovadora en el Ciclo de Vida de Verificación y Validación de Software en Simuladores de Vuelo, de tal manera de optimizar su funcionalidad. La utilización de este método en las primeras etapas de dicho proceso permite una interacción activa y temprana con el usuario, aumentando la generación de opciones de solución y la identificación de necesidades, consiguiendo contribuir a la calidad del producto final. Es importante asegurar la calidad en el desarrollo de software de simuladores de vuelos, debido a su funcionamiento crucial y a la esencialidad que aportan en la defensa aérea de nuestro país. Para mejorar el proceso mencionado se trabaja principalmente con tres escenarios de Design Thinking: Ideación, Inspiración e Implementación. El objetivo principal de este artículo es integrar estos escenarios en el Ciclo de Vida de Verificación y Validación de manera que ayuden a desarrollar una nueva forma de testear software, incluyendo al usuario como fuente estratégica. Se espera que los resultados contribuyan a crear productos de calidad, ya que los mismos representan un activo esencial para la formación de pilotos que asumen el desafío de custodiar el cielo argentino

Aplicación de Norma ISO 9241-11 para la Evaluación de la Usabilidad en Simuladores de Vuelo

This article presents the application of the ISO 9241-11 Standard to the Flight Simulators Software of the Air Force Argentine to evaluate the usability of these simulators. Each organization and software product are generally different, there is not a "unique" usability test that can be applied to all “software projects.” Highly prestigious companies, such as Apple, Yahoo, and Microsoft, use different usability techniques depending on their specific needs. The main objective of this work is to take the ISO 9241-11 Standard as a reference and then adapt it to the organization´s needs, formulating and implementing metrics that help to evaluate usability objectively and finally contrast, analyze and report the results obtained in this applied research.Este artículo presenta la aplicación de la Norma ISO 9241-11 al software correspondiente a Simuladores de Vuelo de la Fuerza Aérea Argentina, con el fin de evaluar la usabilidad de dichos entrenadores. Cada organización y producto software son en general diferentes, es decir, no existe una prueba de usabilidad “única” que sea portable para aplicar a todos los “proyectos software”.  Empresas de gran prestigio, como Apple, Yahoo, Microsoft, entre otras, utilizan diferentes técnicas de usabilidad, en función de sus necesidades específicas. El principal objetivo de este trabajo es tomar como referencia la Norma ISO 9241-11 y adaptarla a las necesidades de la organización en cuestión, formulando e implementando métricas que ayuden a evaluar la usabilidad de manera objetiva y finalmente contrastar, analizar y reportar los resultados obtenidos en esta investigación aplicada

Clinical Factors, Preventive Behaviours and Temporal Outcomes Associated with COVID-19 Infection in Health Professionals at a Spanish Hospital

The authors thank K. Shashok for improving the use of English in the manuscript.The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has quickly spread around the world, with Spain being one of the most severely affected countries. Healthcare professionals are an important risk group given their exposure. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of symptoms, main concerns as patients, preventive behaviours of healthcare professionals, and the different temporal outcomes associated with the negativization of PCR results. A total of 238 professionals were analysed and follow-up was conducted from 11 March to 21 April 2020 through clinical records, in-depth surveys, and telephone interviews. Symptoms, concerns, and preventive measures were documented, and temporal outcomes (start and end of symptoms, first positive PCR, and negativization of PCR) were analysed through survival analyses. A high prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms (especially in women and older professionals), fever, cough, and fatigue were reported. The main concern was contagion in the work and home environment. Professionals (especially men) reported low use of face masks before the pandemic. Our analysis indicates that the median times for the negativization of PCR testing to confirm the resolution of infection is 15 days after the end of symptoms, or 25 days after the first positive PCR test. Our results suggest that these times are longer for women and for professionals aged ≥55 years, therefore follow-up strategies should be optimized in light of both variables. This is the first study we are aware of to report factors associated with the time to negativization of PCR results. We present the first rigorous estimates of time outcomes and hope that these data can be valuable to continue feeding the prediction models that are currently being developed. Similar studies are required to corroborate our results.Chair of Teaching and Research in Family Medicine SEMERGEN-UGR. University of Granad

Sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory factors on admission associated with COVID19 mortality in hospitalized patients: A retrospective observational study

Background To identify and quantify associations between baseline characteristics on hospital admission and mortality in patients with COVID-19 at a tertiary hospital in Spain. Methods and findings This retrospective case series included 238 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 at Hospital Universitario Clı´nico San Cecilio (Granada, Spain) who were discharged or who died. Electronic medical records were reviewed to obtain information on sex, age, personal antecedents, clinical features, findings on physical examination, and laboratory results for each patient. Associations between mortality and baseline characteristics were estimated as hazard ratios (HR) calculated with Cox regression models. Series mortality was 25.6%. Among patients with dependence for basic activities of daily living, 78.7% died, and among patients residing in retirement homes, 80.8% died. The variables most clearly associated with a greater hazard of death were age (3% HR increase per 1-year increase in age; 95%CI 1–6), diabetes mellitus (HR 2.42, 95%CI 1.43–4.09), SatO2/ FiO2 ratio (43% HR reduction per 1-point increase; 95%CI 23–57), SOFA score (19% HR increase per 1-point increase, 95%CI 5–34) and CURB-65 score (76% HR increase per 1- point increase, 95%CI 23–143). Conclusions The patients residing in retirement homes showed great vulnerability. The main baseline factors that were independently associated with mortality in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 were older age, diabetes mellitus, low SatO2/FiO2 ratio, and high SOFA and CURB-65 scores.Fondos Estructurales de la Union Europea (FEDER)Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES), University of Granad

Higher versus lower nut consumption and changes in cognitive performance over two years in a population at risk of cognitive decline: a cohort study

Background: Tree nuts and peanuts (henceforth, nuts) are nutrient-dense foods rich in neuroprotective components; thus, their consumption could benefit cognitive health. However, evidence to date is limited and inconsistent regarding the potential benefits of nuts for cognitive function. Objective: To prospectively evaluate the association between nut consumption and 2-y changes in cognitive performance in older adults at cognitive decline risk. Methods: A total of 6,630 participants aged 55 to 75 y (mean age 65.0±4.9 y, 48.4% women) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome completed a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests at baseline and a 2-y follow-up. Composite cognitive scores were used to assess global, general, attention, and executive function domains. Nut consumption was categorized as Results: Nut consumption was positively associated with 2-y changes in general cognitive function (P-trend Conclusion: Frequent nut consumption was associated with a smaller decline in general cognitive performance over 2 y in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. Randomized clinical trials to verify our findings are warranted

Correction : Chaparro et al. Incidence, Clinical Characteristics and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Spain: Large-Scale Epidemiological Study. J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 2885

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]

Incidence, Clinical Characteristics and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Spain : Large-Scale Epidemiological Study

(1) Aims: To assess the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Spain, to describe the main epidemiological and clinical characteristics at diagnosis and the evolution of the disease, and to explore the use of drug treatments. (2) Methods: Prospective, population-based nationwide registry. Adult patients diagnosed with IBD-Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) or IBD unclassified (IBD-U)-during 2017 in Spain were included and were followed-up for 1 year. (3) Results: We identified 3611 incident cases of IBD diagnosed during 2017 in 108 hospitals covering over 22 million inhabitants. The overall incidence (cases/100,000 person-years) was 16 for IBD, 7.5 for CD, 8 for UC, and 0.5 for IBD-U; 53% of patients were male and median age was 43 years (interquartile range = 31-56 years). During a median 12-month follow-up, 34% of patients were treated with systemic steroids, 25% with immunomodulators, 15% with biologics and 5.6% underwent surgery. The percentage of patients under these treatments was significantly higher in CD than UC and IBD-U. Use of systemic steroids and biologics was significantly higher in hospitals with high resources. In total, 28% of patients were hospitalized (35% CD and 22% UC patients, p < 0.01). (4) Conclusion: The incidence of IBD in Spain is rather high and similar to that reported in Northern Europe. IBD patients require substantial therapeutic resources, which are greater in CD and in hospitals with high resources, and much higher than previously reported. One third of patients are hospitalized in the first year after diagnosis and a relevant proportion undergo surgery