La Biblioteca Histórica Marqués de Valdecilla de la Universidad Complutense: un centro de apoyo a la investigación y la docencia

The Historical Library “Marqués de Valdecilla” of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid assembles the collections of the educational institutions that have belonged to the University throughout its history. Since its foundation in the late 15th century by Cardinal Cisneros and until the mid-19th century, it opened its doors to numerous prestigious educational institutions and allowed its bookshelves to be shared among their libraries. The Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso and the Colegios Menores de Alcalá, the Real Colegio de Medicina y Cirugía de San Carlos and the Reales Estudios de San Isidro (formerly, Colegio Imperial de los Jesuitas), together with many other institutions and private libraries, developed a magnificent collection of over 3,000 manuscripts, 728 incunabula and almost 100,000 books dated between the 16th and 19th centuries. The content of this collection bears the hallmark of the evolution of science, thought and education in Spain over the last 500 years. It is no wonder that the Historical Library “Marqués de Valdecilla” has earned a reputation for being a project of the utmost importance, not only because it promotes education and research within the University, but also because it safeguards and disseminates its bibliographic heritage

Cholinergic immunomodulation in inflammatory bowel diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic intestinal disorders characterized by dysregulated immune responses to resident microbiota in genetically susceptible hosts. The activation of the cholinergic system has been proposed for the treatment of IBD patients according to its potential anti-inflammatory effect in vivo. The α-7-nicotinic-acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) is involved in the inhibition of inflammatory processes, modulating the production of cytokines, suppressing dendritic cells and macrophage activity, leading to the suppression of T cells. In this review, we address the most recent studies and clinical trials concerning cholinergic signaling and its therapeutic potential for inflammatory bowel diseases

Caracterización fenotípica y terapia génica del ratón Prpf31A216P/+

Falta palabras claveEl término Retinosis Pigmentaria (RP) engloba a un grupo de enfermedades hereditarias de la retina, caracterizadas por una degeneración progresiva de los fotorreceptores, que comienza con la muerte celular de los bastones seguidos de los conos, resultando una discapacidad visual que puede llegar a ser absoluta. Es una condición muy heterogénea, tanto fenotípica como genéticamente. En conjunto, este grupo de trastornos de la retina, representa la forma hereditaria más común de discapacidad visual en el hombre, con una prevalencia estimada de 1 de cada 3.000 a 1 de cada 5.000 personas en el mundo. Para el estudio de la patología molecular de la enfermedad y la formulación de futuras terapias, se han sido diseñados modelos de ratón apropiados. La estrategia utilizada para la generación de mutantes PRPF31 fue la utilización de un constructo recombinante por mutagénesis dirigida que podría dar lugar a dos tipos de modelos de ratón. El primero es un modelo de mutación puntual que imita el cambio de patógenos A216P identificado en una de las familias con RP11. La homología entre el ratón y las proteínas PRPF31 humanas es del 99% y el aminoácido en posición 216 está altamente conservado en todas las especie. El vector que porta la mutación puntual en el exón 7 (A216P) fue desarrollado de tal manera que dos sitios loxP flanquean el exón 7, lo que permite la eliminación de este fragmento con la recombinasa Cre. El modelo de ratón knock-in ya ha sido analizado hasta la edad de 12 meses. Hasta el momento se han observado algunos cambios en la histología de la retina como vacuolización y acúmulo de material amorfo entre el epitelio pigmetario y la membrana de Bruch. Realizamos terapia génica en el ratón Prpf31A216P/+ knock-in mediante inyección subretinana con el vector AAV2 portando el trasgen PRPF31. Realizamos seguimiento de los animales durante 6 meses y logramos una adecuada expresión del gen a nivel del epitelio pigmentario de los ratones. Sin embargo no observamos mejoría de la visión espacial ni recuperación de la amplitud de la onda c. En estudios histológicos visualizamos infiltrados de células similares a macrófagos en el sitio de la inyección, donde se observó que la capa de fotorreceptores presentaba un aspecto atrófico con pocas capas de núcleos en la capa nuclear externa de la retina. Sin embargo con el uso de vectores no virales se observó recuperación de la visión espacial y disminución de la atrofia de la retina en el seguimiento a un mes. Esto es una prueba de concepto de que la terapia génica utilizando PRPF31 podría tener un efecto terapéutico en el manejo de esta distrofia retiniana

Cuidados de enfermería al paciente con ventilación mecánica

El cuidado a los pacientes con ventilación mecánica es una práctica muy común en las unidades de cuidados intensivos. La presencia de calidad en el desarrollo de estos cuidados es fundamental para mejorar el estado de salud de estos pacientes y así evitar complicaciones. El plan de cuidados realizado sirve de herramienta a los enfermeros que trabajan con este tipo de pacientes, ya que orienta las actividades de enfermería con el fin de realizar unos cuidados seguros, basados en la evidencia y de máxima calidad. En este trabajo se utiliza el marco referencial de los patrones funcionales de Marjory Gordon y el método e instrumentos de un proceso de atención de enfermería. Todo ello utilizando las taxonomías del lenguaje enfermero NANDA, NOC Y NIC

Relación entre la concentración plasmática de lipoproteína(a) y la expresión del gen LPA

La Lipoproteína(a) [Lp(a)] es una partícula asociada al transporte de colesterol y definida como factor de riesgo cardiovascular. Está compuesta por una lipoproteína LDL unida a la apolipoproteína (a) y se caracteriza por ser heterogénea tanto en su tamaño, como en la concentración plasmática de cada sujeto; esto le confiere una complejidad que dificulta su estudio y por tanto, la detección de posibles dianas terapéuticas para descender los niveles sanguíneos de Lp(a) en los pacientes de riesgo. Uno de los principales objetivos en el estudio de la Lp(a) es definir los factores que determinan su concentración plasmática. En este sentido, el presente trabajo trata de evaluar la asociación entre la expresión génica de LPA en tejido hepático humano y la concentración plasmática de Lp(a) en cada uno de los sujetos incluidos en el estudio. Los resultados obtenidos permiten concluir que, en la especie humana, la expresión del gen LPA determina un 12,8% (R2 corregida = 0,128) de la concentración plasmática de Lp(a); lo que evidencia el papel de otros mecanismos postranscripcionales en la regulación de los niveles de esta lipoproteína

Retinal pigment epithelium degeneration caused by aggregation of PRPF31 and the role of HSP70 family of proteins

Background Mutations in pre-mRNA splicing factor PRPF31 can lead to retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Although the exact disease mechanism remains unknown, it has been hypothesized that haploinsufficiency might be involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. Methods In this study, we have analyzed a mouse model containing the p.A216P mutation in Prpf31 gene. Results We found that mutant Prpf31 protein produces cytoplasmic aggregates in the retinal pigment epithelium and decreasing the protein levels of this splicing factor in the nucleus. Additionally, normal protein was recruited in insoluble aggregates when the mutant protein was overexpressed in vitro. In response to protein aggregation, Hspa4l is overexpressed. This member of the HSP70 family of chaperones might contribute to the correct folding and solubilization of the mutant protein, allowing its translocation to the nucleus. Conclusions Our data suggests that a mechanism haploinsufficiency and dominant-negative is involved in retinal degeneration due to mutations in PRPF31. HSP70 over-expression might be a new therapeutic target for the treatment of retinal degeneration due to PRPF31 mutations.This project has been financed through a) The ISCIII (Miguel Servet-I, 2015), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), No CP15/00071. b) The European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, under grant agreement No 634479. c) Regional Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Science of the Junta de Andalucía, No P09-CTS-04967.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ceramide Metabolism and Parkinson’s Disease—Therapeutic Targets

Ceramide is a bioactive sphingolipid involved in numerous cellular processes. In addition to being the precursor of complex sphingolipids, ceramides can act as second messengers, especially when they are generated at the plasma membrane of cells. Its metabolic dysfunction may lead to or be a consequence of an underlying disease. Recent reports on transcriptomics and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis have demonstrated the variation of specific levels of sphingolipids and enzymes involved in their metabolism in different neurodegenerative diseases. In the present review, we highlight the most relevant discoveries related to ceramide and neurodegeneration, with a special focus on Parkinson’s disease.This study was partially supported by grants from the Xunta de Galicia (Consellería de Economía e Industria: IN607A2018/3 & IN607D 2020/09), and Science Ministry of Spain (RTI2018-102165-B-I00 & RTC2019-007373-1). Furthermore, this study was also supported by grants from the INTERREG Atlantic Area (EAPA_791/2018_ NEUROATLANTIC project), INTERREG V A España Portugal (POCTEP) (0624_2IQBIONEURO_6_E) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Work in AGM lab is supported by grant IT-1106-16 from “Departamento de Educación, Universidades e Investigación” (Gobierno Vasco, Gasteiz-Virtoria, Spain). Moreover, M. Aramburu-Núñez (IFI18/00008) is recipient of iPFIS contract, and Sobrino (CPII17/00027) is recipient of a research contract from the Miguel Servet Program from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Nutritional quality and carbon footprint of university students’ diets: results from the EHU12/24 study

Objective: To evaluate diets in terms of nutritional characteristics and quality from the perspectives of health, greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and possible associations with each other in a representative sample of students at a public university. Design: Cross-sectional. Dietary intake was evaluated with a validated FFQ, and diet quality was assessed through the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2010) and MedDietScore (MDS). GHGE data were obtained from the literature. In addition, sex, socio-economic status (SES) and body fat (BF) status were analysed as covariates. Setting: Basque Autonomous Community, Spain. Participants: Totally, 26 165 healthy adults aged 18-28 years. Results: Student diets were characterised by low consumption of carbohydrates (38 center dot 72 % of total energy intake (TEI)) and a high intake of lipids (39 center dot 08 % of TEI). Over half of the participants had low dietary quality. The low-emitting diets were more likely to be consumed by subjects with low HEI-2010 scores (beta: 0 center dot 039 kg eCO(2)/1000 kcal/d) and high MDS scores (beta: -0 center dot 023 kg eCO(2)/1000 kcal/d), after controlling for sex, SES and BF status. Both the low-emitting and healthy diets were more likely to be consumed by women and by those with normal BF percentage. Conclusions: UPV/EHU university students' diets were characterised by moderate quality from a nutritional perspective and moderate variation in the size of carbon footprints. In this population, diets of the highest quality were not always those with the lowest diet-related GHGE; this relationship depended in part on the constructs and scoring criteria of diet quality indices used

Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lifestyles of Health Sciences University Students in Spain: A Longitudinal Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted daily activities worldwide. University students may have experienced substantial changes in daily living as a result of restrictions on university attendance. The return to normalcy may take a long time, and understanding the influence that shifts in daily routines have had on the lifestyles of university students may inform approaches to support overall well-being. We analyzed changes in the lifestyles of students enrolled at a health sciences university during the COVID-19 pandemic. This longitudinal study took place at the Faculty of Medicine and Nursing in the University of the Basque Country in Spain, and the final sample consisted of 113 nursing students, 109 medical students, and 45 physiotherapy students. Our results demonstrate changes in lifestyles of university students during the pandemic. MedDiet adherence scores and the percentage of students with high adherence increased during the pandemic. This increase was due to the increased consumption of vegetables and nuts. In terms of physical activity, the practice of moderate and intense physical activity was maintained. These results provide important information for both public health authorities and educational institutions to guide strategies to maintain the well-being of students and enhance opportunities for young adults to lead a healthy lifestyle.This research was funded by the Official College of Nursing of Gipuzkoa (COEGI), grant number S0040/2020