Vitamin D concentrations in familial combined hyperlipidemia: effects of lipid lowering treatment

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to several cardiovascular risk factors but information regarding vitamin D concentrations in familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) is lacking. Our objective was to examine vitamin D concentrations in patients with FCHL and to study the effects of lipid-lowering therapy. METHODS: We conducted a cross sectional study on 59 patients with FCHL and 48 healthy controls. We analyzed 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and their association with lipid parameters, anthropometric measures, C-reactive protein and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index. Twenty-three patients with FCHL were also included in a longitudinal study conducted to analyze 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations before and after treatment for dyslipidemia. RESULTS: After adjustment for body mass index and seasonality, patients with FCHL had lower vitamin D concentrations than controls. Adjusted means (standard error of the mean (S.E.M)) for 25(OH)D according to the presence or absence of FCHL were 62.8 (3.6) nmol/L for patients with FCHL and 74.8 (4.1) nmol/L for controls (p = 0.021). In FCHL, hypovitaminosis D was associated with features of atherogenic dyslipidemia. After lipid-lowering therapy, vitamin D concentrations increased (51.0 ± 31.3 to 58.9 ± 24.6 nmol/L (P = 0.022)). However, changes in 25(OH)D concentrations did not correlate with changes in other parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that FCHL is associated with decreased vitamin D concentrations and that treatment for dyslipidemia improves vitamin D status through an unknown mechanism. Further studies are needed to replicate these data in larger populations and to elucidate the mechanisms involved in this association

Evaluación de la metodología en programas de formación profesional para el empleo de la Región de Murcia

This paper presents the main methodological features of a research study aimed at assessing a training course for workers in the transport sector in the Region of Murcia, Spain. This research study is part of the 6th National Plan for Scientific Research, Development and Technological Innovation (2008-2011). The aim was to assess the training sessions and the extent to which courses are spread to a wide audience. Data were collected via a questionnaire administered to course participants, and an in-depth interview to course trainers. The results show a high level of satisfaction with the materials and methodologies used, as well as with the media used for spreading the training courses offered. Improvement plans are presented, which may help the development of training plans and further research.  En este artículo se recogen los principales aspectos metodológicos de una investigación realizada con el propósito de evaluar un plan de formación de trabajadores del sector del transporte en la Región de Murcia, enmarcado en el VI Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica (2008-2011). Los principales objetivos de la evaluación han sido la valoración de las acciones formativas y el grado de difusión y conocimiento de los cursos. Como instrumentos de recogida de información se han utilizado el cuestionario dirigido a los usuarios de las acciones y la entrevista en profundidad destinada a diferentes agentes implicados en el sector. Los resultados evidencian un grado de satisfacción elevado ante los materiales y metodologías empleados, así como de los medios de difusión utilizados para el conocimiento de la oferta formativa. Se finaliza con propuestas de mejora para los programa de formación y nuevas investigaciones en el áre

Wannier-Bloch approach to localization in high harmonics generation in solids

Emission of high-order harmonics from solids provides a new avenue in attosecond science. On one hand, it allows to investigate fundamental processes of the non-linear response of electrons driven by a strong laser pulse in a periodic crystal lattice. On the other hand, it opens new paths toward efficient attosecond pulse generation, novel imaging of electronic wave functions, and enhancement of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) intensity. A key feature of HHG in a solid (as compared to the well-understood phenomena of HHG in an atomic gas) is the delocalization of the process, whereby an electron ionized from one site in the periodic lattice may recombine with any other. Here, we develop an analytic model, based on the localized Wannier wave functions in the valence band and delocalized Bloch functions in the conduction band. This Wannier-Bloch approach assesses the contributions of individual lattice sites to the HHG process, and hence addresses precisely the question of localization of harmonic emission in solids. We apply this model to investigate HHG in a ZnO crystal for two different orientations, corresponding to wider and narrower valence and conduction bands, respectively. Interestingly, for narrower bands, the HHG process shows significant localization, similar to harmonic generation in atoms. For all cases, the delocalized contributions to HHG emission are highest near the band-gap energy. Our results pave the way to controlling localized contributions to HHG in a solid crystal, with hard to overestimate implications for the emerging area of atto-nanoscience

Tau aggregation

Here we revisit tau protein aggregation at primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures. In addition, the presence of non-aggregated tau protein, which has been recently discovered, is also commented o

Effects of Atorvastatin on Vitamin D Levels in Patients With Acute Ischemic Heart Disease

Producción CientíficaVitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for osteoporosis and other chronic diseases, including type 1 diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and ischemic heart disease. Cholesterol and vitamin D share the 7-dehydrocolesterol metabolic pathway. This study evaluated the possible effect of atorvastatin on vitamin D levels in patients with acute ischemic heart disease. Eighty-three patients (52 men and 31 women) with an acute coronary syndrome (75 with acute myocardial infarction and 8 with unstable angina) were included. After diagnosis, patients received atorvastatin as secondary prevention. Serum vitamin D was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography at baseline and at 12 months. Atorvastatin treatment produced a statistically significant decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels and an increase in vitamin D levels (41 19 vs 47 19 nmol/L, p 0.003). Vitamin D deficiency was decreased by 75% to 57% at 12 months. In conclusion, atorvastatin increases vitamin D levels. This increase could explain some of the beneficial effects of atorvastatin at the cardiovascular level that are unrelated to cholesterol levels

Sistemas de gestión de contenido web: Uso y estudio comparativo inicial de su seguridad

[ES] Los Sistemas de Gestión de Contenido Web (Web Content Management Systems, WCMS) han ganado mucha popularidad debido a la facilidad que aportan a la hora de crear páginas o portales web, sites de comercio electrónico, etc. En este trabajo se explica de forma resumida cómo es el manejo los WCMS y qué se puede lograr con su uso. Para ello, trabajaremos con tres de los más populares WCMS de tipo open-source empleados hoy en día, Joomla, Wordpress y Drupal, y veremos las ventajas e inconvenientes de trabajar con cada uno de ellos. Con este fin, crearemos tres web iguales en requisitos y funcionalidades, una con cada WCMS, y se analizará cualitativamente la complejidad de cada uno de ellos. Finalmente, realizaremos un análisis básico de seguridad de las webs creadas, informando de sus posibles vulnerabilidades, explicando cómo mejorar su seguridad, qué fallos no debemos cometer y qué WCMS es inicialmente más seguro/vulnerable.This research was supported by the AEI/FEDER, UE project grant TEC2016-76465-C2-1-R (AIM).Aledo-Hernández, A.; Guillén-Pérez, A.; Martinez-Caro, J.; Sanchez-Iborra, R.; Cano, M. (2018). Sistemas de gestión de contenido web: Uso y estudio comparativo inicial de su seguridad. En XIII Jornadas de Ingeniería telemática (JITEL 2017). Libro de actas. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 86-92. https://doi.org/10.4995/JITEL2017.2017.6558OCS869

The Association of Hypovitaminosis D with the Metabolic Syndrome Is Independent of the Degree of Obesity

Background. It remains uncertain whether the metabolic syndrome (MS) or insulin resistance contribute to the association between vitamin D deficiency and obesity. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 343 subjects who were overweight or obese. We analyzed anthropometric data and the presence or absence of MS. Additionally, we determined 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and insulin concentrations, and the HOMA index was calculated. Chi-square test,Mann-Whitney U test, Student's t -tests,and logistic regression analysis were used. Results. The mean age of the patients was 42 ± 11 years, and 65.9% were women. The mean BMI was 34.7 ± 8.3 kg/m 2 and 25(OH)D levels were 53.7 ± 29.8 nmol/L. Forty-six patients (13.4%) had MS. Vitamin D status was associated with the degree of obesity, especially with a BMI > 40 kg/m 2. Patients with MS had lower levels of 25(OH)D than patients without (43.3 ± 29.0 versus 55.3 ± 29.6 mmol/L, resp.), and the odds ratio for hypovitaminosis D was 2.7 (confidence interval (CI), 1.14-6.4) (P =.023) for patients with MS versus patients without MS, irrespective of the degree of obesity. Conclusions. Our data confirm the association between vitamin D and MS and suggest that this association is independent of the degree of obesity

Characterization of Sheep Farming in Agroecosystems of Indigenous Communities in Campeche, Mexico

Objective: Characterize sheep production among indigenous producer agroecosystems that received financial support from the Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas (CDI) (National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples), in Campeche, Mexico. Design/methodology/approximation: A socioeconomic and technical questionnaire was designed and provided to 199 producers grouped into 27 sheep production units, from seven municipalities in the state of Campeche. Results: Sheep production within the indigenous communities of Campeche is characterized by the use of extensive grazing, low levels of technology, limited facilities, and high participation by adult women who are willing to learn and implement innovations and technologies. The production systems are the traditional type focused on the reproduction of herds for market sale and self-consumption, with no records of production and sheep reproductive performance. Producers want to continue their production activities and are willing to implement strategies that contribute to improving their production units. Limitations/implications: Provision of support policies and training protocols for sheep production must differentiate between indigenous and that performed by other social groups. Findings/conclusions? Sheep production units within the indigenous groups benefited by the CDI have limited facilities for adequate herd management, limited qualifications for herd management and maintenance of records on production and reproduction, hence the reason why the production system is classified as traditional. However, there is much participation by adult women who are willing to learn and implement innovations and technologies that contribute to improvement of their production units.Objective: To characterize sheep farming in agroecosystems of indigenous producerswho received financing from the National Commission for the Development ofIndigenous Peoples (Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas,CDI) in Campeche, Mexico.Design/Methodology/Approach: A questionnaire was designed with socioeconomicand technical characteristics and was applied to n=199 producers grouped into 27 sheepfarming units, distributed among seven municipalities of Campeche.Results: Sheep farming in the evaluated communities is characterized by extensivegrazing, a low technology level, lack of infrastructure, and high participation of women ofproductive age that are available to learn and implement innovations and technologies.The production system is traditional and focused on repopulating flocks, which are ameans of savings and auto-consumption, without productive and reproductive records.Producers are willing to implement strategies that contribute to improving their farmingunits.Study Limitations/Implications: Support policies, as well as capacity-building plans,should distinguish between indigenous and traditional sheep farming.Findings/Conclusions: The sheep farming units have inadequate infrastructure for flockmanagement, they demonstrate limited knowledge for their adequate management,there are no control records, and they are classified as a traditional farming system.Key words: Sheep, breeds, indigenous production units

High-order harmonic generation driven by chirped laser pulses induced by linear and non linear phenomena

We present a theoretical study of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) driven by; ultrashort optical pulses with different kind of chirps. The goal of the present work is; to perform a detailed study to clarify the relevant parameters in the chirped pulses to; achieve a noticeable cut-off extensions in HHG. These chirped pulses are generated using; both linear and nonlinear dispersive media. The description of the physical mechanisms; origin responsible for this extension is, however, not usually reported with enough detail; in the literature. The study of the behaviour of the harmonic cut-off with this kind of; pulses is carried out in the classical context, by the integration of the Newton-Lorentz; equation complemented with the quantum approach, based on the integration of the time; dependent Schrodinger equation in full dimensions (TDSE-3D).Facultad de IngenieríaCentro de Investigaciones Óptica

Descripción de la larva de Phyllophaga lenis (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) en Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca, México, con notas sobre su biología

Se describe el tercer estadio larval de Phyllophaga lenis (Horn, 1887) con especímenes criados en laboratorio, cuyos progenitores fueron capturados en un campo agrícola de Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca. Se incluyen las imágenes de los caracteres diagnósticos, notas sobre su biología y hábitos, comentarios acerca de las diferencias con otras especies mexicanas parecidas y una clave para separar las larvas de 15 especies de Phyllophaga en México