Integrative biomarker assessment of the effects of chemically and mechanically dispersed crude oil in Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas

International audienceThe impact of dispersed crude oil and dispersant on adult Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas, was evaluated through an integrative biomarker approach including (1) biochemical (plasma catecholase- and laccase-type phenoloxidase and superoxide dismutase), (2) histological (digestive cell lysosomal responses, digestive gland histopathology) and (3) physiological (flesh condition index) endpoints in the haemolymph and digestive gland. Adult oysters were exposed to non-contaminated water (control), chemically-dispersed oil (Brut Arabian Light), mechanically-dispersed oil and dispersant (FINASOL®) alone for 2 days, and further depurated in noncontaminated water for 4 weeks. After exposure to chemically and mechanically dispersed oil oysters exhibited induction of plasma laccase-type phenoloxidase and superoxide dismutase activities, enlargement of digestive cell lysosomes, lipofuscin accumulation, reduced neutral lipid content and atrophy of digestive gland diverticula; more markedly on exposure to chemically dispersed oil. From the studied biomarkers, only lysosomal biomarkers were significantly affected after exposure to the dispersant alone. This included lysosomal enlargement, neutral lipid depletion and lipofuscin accumulation in the digestive gland epithelium. A recovery of plasma enzyme activities was observed after 4 weeks of depuration. The integrative biological response index indicated that chemically dispersed oil caused significantly higher stress to C. gigas than the mechanically-dispersed one or the dispersant alone; nevertheless, the response seems to be reversible after depuration

Development, Application and Evaluation of an Active Learning Methodology for Health Science Students, Oriented towards Equity and Cultural Diversity in the Treatment and Care of Geriatric Patients

The increased aging of populations and rises in immigration have prompted the design of new methodologies and instruments for fostering the invisible care of geriatric patients among health science students in accordance with the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. A total of 656 psychology, nursing and dentistry students participated in this study, which had a pretest–posttest design and was implemented over the course of three academic years. The intervention groups received training using an active learning methodology based on a case study involving a geriatric patient; specifically, a Maghrebi woman. The control groups were not exposed to the case study. The CCI-U questionnaire was designed ad hoc to evaluate the acquisition of invisible competences for caring for geriatric patients in accordance with their age, sex, emotional situation and ethnic origin. The questionnaire had a reliability of α = 0.63 to 0.72 and its factor solution was found to have a good fit. Students in the intervention groups scored higher than those in the control groups, with the difference being statistically significant for ethnic origin in all three undergraduate courses and all three academic years. The proper application of this active learning methodology fosters the invisible care of geriatric patients among students in accordance with the 2030 Agenda.This research project was funded by the University of the Basque Country, Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Educational Innovation, grant number IKDI3-21-04, and the APC was funded by the University of the Basque Country

Association among University Students’ Motivation, Resilience, Perceived Competence, and Classroom Climate from the Perspective of Self-Determination Theory

Self-determination theory (SDT) suggests that motivation can interact with resilience and perceived competence. The climate-related characteristics of the classroom can influence student motivation. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between the differentiated motivation of theoretical and practical teaching, resilience, and perceived competence, considering the number of students per class and the profiles of the lecturers. A total of 789 students participated (mean age = 19.31; SD = 3.37) from Psychology, Nursing, and Education degrees from different Spanish universities. The BRS (resilience), PCNS (perceived competence), and PLOC-U (university student motivation) questionnaires were used with a new scale designed ad hoc to measure motivation in practical teaching. Student-to-class ratios and different levels of teaching experience were also recorded. A test–retest design was used to verify the stability of the measures before and after the examination of the subjects. Intrinsic motivation in practical teaching was significantly associated with resilience (r = 0.09, p < 0.03) and perceived competence (r = 0.23, p < 0.01), and in theoretical teaching, it was associated only with perceived competence (r = 20, p < 0.01). The factorial analysis of the new subscale of the PLOC-U for the measurement of motivation in practical teaching presented a good fit and reliability (α = 0.60 to 0.84) in the five factors. Test–retest analyses revealed good temporal stability. Students in small groups with more experienced lecturers scored higher on intrinsic motivation, particularly in practical classes. The stable and reliable measurement of the different types of student motivation allows their analysis and association with other variables of interest in university education, which could lead to significant improvements in teaching planning.The APC was partially funded by the University of the Basque Country and by the Biodonostia Health Research Institute

Obesity Parameters, Physical Activity, And Physical Fitness are Correlated With Serum Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Activity In A Healthy Population

Objective: To determine whether obesity, physical fitness, and physical activity parameters are associated with the enzymatic activity of serum dipeptidyl peptidase IV (sDPPIV) in a sample of healthy women and men. Design and methods: We have correlated parameters of obesity, physical fitness, and physical activity with sDPPIV activity in 374 healthy subjects (age: 60.7 +/- 6.9 years, body mass index: 26.1 +/- 4.1 kg/m(2)). Enzymatic activity was analyzed using spectrofluorimetry, body composition was assessed by impedanciometry, physical fitness data were obtained using the Senior Fitness Test, and physical activity data were collected by accelerometer. Pearson' s partial correlation analysis was applied to determine the relationship between DPPIV activity and the rest of parameters and significantly correlated variables were introduced into linear regression models to predict DPPIV. Results: Serum DPPIV activity was negatively associated with obesity parameters such as body mass (r = -0.112), body mass index (BMI) (r = -0.147), waist circumference (r = -0.164), waist-to-hip ratio (-0.104), and percentage of fat mass (r = -0.185). Serum DPPIV activity was positively associated with cardiovascular fitness (r = 0.138), total amount of physical activity (r = 0.153), and time spent doing light exercise (r = 0.184). Regression models revealed sex differences in enzyme activity with overall activity higher in women than in men (beta = 0.437, p < 0.001). Further, percent fat mass was an independent negative predictor of DPPIV activity (beta = -0.184, p = 0.001). Serum DPPIV activity was positively predicted based on the amount of time spent doing light physical activity (beta = 0.167, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that sDPPIV activity is positively associated with healthier parameters regarding fatness, fitness and physical activity.This work was supported by the Basque Government (GIC12/173: IT811-13) and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU: PPG17/40)

Cerebrospinal Fluid 7-Ketocholesterol Level is Associated with Amyloid-β42 and White Matter Microstructure in Cognitively Healthy Adults

Background:Abnormal cholesterol metabolism changes the neuronal membrane and may promote amyloidogenesis. Oxysterols in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers in mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Cholesterol turnover is important for axonal and white matter (WM) microstructure maintenance. Objective:We aim to demonstrate that the association of oxysterols, AD biomarkers, and WM microstructure occurs early in asymptomatic individuals. Methods:We studied the association of inter-individual variability of CSF 24-hydroxycholesterol (24-OHC), 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC), 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC), 7β-hydroxycholesterol (7β-OHC), amyloid-β42 (Aβ42), total-tau (t-tau), phosphorylated-tau (p-tau), neurofilament (NfL), and WM microstructure using diffusion tensor imaging, generalized linear models and moderation/mediation analyses in 153 healthy adults. Results:Higher 7-KC levels were related to lower Aβ42, indicative of greater AD pathology (p = 0.041) . Higher 7-KC levels were related to lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and higher mean (MD), axial (AxD), and radial (RD) diffusivity. 7-KC modulated the association between AxD and NfL in the corpus callosum splenium (B = 39.39, p = 0.017), genu (B = 68.64, p = 0.000), and fornix (B = 10.97, p = 0.000). Lower Aβ42 levels were associated to lower FA and higher MD, AxD, and RD in the fornix, corpus callosum, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, and hippocampus. The association between AxD and Aβ42 was moderated by 7K-C (p = 0.048). Conclusion:This study adds clinical evidence to support the role of 7K-C on axonal integrity and the involvement of cholesterol metabolism in the Aβ42 generation process

Arrisku faktore kardiobaskularrak alzheimer gaixotasunaren etiopatogenian: biomarkatzaileen ikerketa klinika aurreko fasean

274 p.Alzheimer gaixotasuna egungo dementziarik sarriena da eta gehhienbat 65 urtetik Aurreraematen da. Azken dauten arabera, prebalentzia asko handitzen ari da eta etorkizunean asko handitzeaespero da, edozein osasun/gizarte sistema kolokan jartzeraino.Gauza jakina da, sintomak hasi baino urte batzuk lehenago garun mailan aldaketak gertatzen direla etahortaz, sintomak hasi aurretik biomarkatzaileen bitartez gaixotasuna detektatu eta gerora modugoiztiarrean tratatu edo eta prebenitu daitekeela uste da.Arrisku faktore kardiobaskularrek (AFKB) garun mailan duten eragina oso ikertua izan da azkenurteetan, eta mekanimoa gauza ezezaguna bada ere, erlazioaren existentzia baieztatua izan da.Tesi honek ikerketa zientifikoari eransten dion berria, laginak likido zefalorrakideoarekin (LZR)izan direla, orain arte publikatu ez dena.Lortutako emaitzen arabera, hipertentsio arteriala eta Alzheimer gaixotasunaren LZRbiomarkarkatzaileak asaldatuak izatea erlazionatuta daude. Eta gainontzeko AFKBekin erlazio estua ezbada ikusi ere, garrantzia handia dutela ondorioztatu da, faktore guztien artean dagoen erlazioagatik

Arrisku faktore kardiobaskularrak alzheimer gaixotasunaren etiopatogenian: biomarkatzaileen ikerketa klinika aurreko fasean

274 p.Alzheimer gaixotasuna egungo dementziarik sarriena da eta gehhienbat 65 urtetik Aurreraematen da. Azken dauten arabera, prebalentzia asko handitzen ari da eta etorkizunean asko handitzeaespero da, edozein osasun/gizarte sistema kolokan jartzeraino.Gauza jakina da, sintomak hasi baino urte batzuk lehenago garun mailan aldaketak gertatzen direla etahortaz, sintomak hasi aurretik biomarkatzaileen bitartez gaixotasuna detektatu eta gerora modugoiztiarrean tratatu edo eta prebenitu daitekeela uste da.Arrisku faktore kardiobaskularrek (AFKB) garun mailan duten eragina oso ikertua izan da azkenurteetan, eta mekanimoa gauza ezezaguna bada ere, erlazioaren existentzia baieztatua izan da.Tesi honek ikerketa zientifikoari eransten dion berria, laginak likido zefalorrakideoarekin (LZR)izan direla, orain arte publikatu ez dena.Lortutako emaitzen arabera, hipertentsio arteriala eta Alzheimer gaixotasunaren LZRbiomarkarkatzaileak asaldatuak izatea erlazionatuta daude. Eta gainontzeko AFKBekin erlazio estua ezbada ikusi ere, garrantzia handia dutela ondorioztatu da, faktore guztien artean dagoen erlazioagatik

Factors contributing to stress in clinical practices: A proposed structural equation model

Correction added on 18 November 2019, after first online publication: The first name of Andrea Izagirre Otaegi was previously incorrect and has been updated in this version.Aim To propose a predictive model of procedural and emotional stress in clinical placements while testing self-efficacy as a possible mediator factor. Design The study used an exploratory correlational design. Method A total of 334 nursing students completed the KEZKAK-stress in clinical practice, AG-general self-efficacy and CEA-academic overload questionnaires, along with one about leadership. Sociodemographic information was also included. Results Confirmatory factor analyses and internal consistency reliabilities were satisfactory in all questionnaires. Procedural stress and emotional stress were confirmed by KEZKAK [chi(2) (674) = 1,555.58, p = .001; chi(2)/df = 2.308, CFI = .90, IFI = 91, RMSEA = .06]. The structural equation method for procedural stress and emotional stress had an acceptable fit. They revealed that academic level influenced the perception of leadership and academic overload in both procedural stress and emotional stress. General self-efficacy only mediated emotional stress. Hospital unit acted independently as a predictor of procedural stress

Data from: Increased CAIDE dementia risk, cognition, CSF biomarkers and vascular burden in healthy adults

Objective: To investigate the cognitive profile of healthy individuals with increased CAIDE dementia risk score, and to explore whether this association is related to vascular burden and CSF biomarkers of amyloidosis and neurodegeneration. Method: Cognitively normal participants (mean age = 57.6 years) from the Gipuzkoa Alzheimer Project study were classified as having high risk (HR, n = 82) or low risk (LR, n = 293) for dementia according to a CAIDE score cut off of 9. Cognitive composites were compared between groups. We explored the role of APOE genotype, MRI white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and CSF (n = 218) levels of amyloid-β1-42 (Aβ1-42), total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in the association between CAIDE and cognition conducting generalized linear models. Results: HR participants obtained lower scores on executive function (EF) (p = .001) and visual perception and construction (VPC) (p < .001) composites. EFc was associated with CAIDEp-tau (p = .001), CAIDEt-tau (p = .001) and WMH (p = .003). VPCc was associated with APOE (p = .001), Aβ1-42 (p = .004), the interaction APOEAβ1-42 (p = .003), and WMH (p = .004). Performance on global memory was associated with Aβ1-42 (p = .006), APOE (p = .008), and their interaction (p = .006). Analyses were adjusted for age, education, sex, premorbid intelligence and stress. Conclusion: Healthy participants at increased dementia risk, based on CAIDE scores, show lower performance in executive function and visual perception and construction. This difference is related to APOE, WMH and Alzheimer’s biomarkers