Sistema de b-learning en Farmacología (I): pilotando

Siguiendo el espíritu renovador derivado de la implementación del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior y utilizando el entorno del Campus Virtual de la UCM (WebCT), se han desarrollado las bases para la implantación de un sistema de b-learning. Los estudiantes de “Farmacología, Farmacia y Terapéutica” de la Licenciatura de Veterinaria podrán consultar, organizado por módulos temáticos, material didáctico para aprender de forma activa los contenidos de esta asignatura troncal. Las herramientas que conforman este sistema presentan diversas finalidades y formatos: formativas (guiones, presentaciones, vídeos, problemas); comunicativas (foro de intercambio de ideas, dudas e iniciativas y avisos); y evaluadoras (autoevaluaciones para los alumnos y encuestas sobre la utilidad de la propia herramienta). La idea es que los estudiantes sean los gestores de su propio aprendizaje. Para ello, cuentan con el apoyo de una herramienta virtual (Aula Virtual de Farmacología), con actividades docentes presenciales (seminarios y tutorías) y con herramientas de evaluación de los conocimientos adquiridos.Following the innovative spirit derived from implementation of the European Higher Education Area and using an online learning environment (Campus Virtual-UCM), the bases for the implantation of a b-learning system have been developed. The students of "Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Therapeutic" of the Veterinary Medicine degree will be able to consult, organized by thematic modules, educational material to learn in an active way the contents of this core subject. The tools that shape this system present diverse purposes and formats: formatives (scripts, presentations, videos, problems); communicatives (forum to exchanging of ideas, doubts or initiatives and notices); assessments (autoevaluations for the pupils and surveys on the usefulness of the own tool). The idea is that students are the managers of their own learning. For it, they have the support of a virtual tool (Virtual Classroom of Pharmacology), face-to-face educational activities (seminars, tutorials) and tools of evaluation of the acquired knowledge

The effects of sildenafil citrate on the fetoplacental development and hemodynamics in a rabbit model of intrauterina growth restriction

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of sildenafil citrate (SC) to improve placental and fetal growth in a diet-induced rabbit model of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Pregnant rabbits were fed either ad libitum (Group C) or restricted to 50% of dietary requirements (Group R) or restricted and treated with SC (Group SC). The treatment with SC improved placental development by increasing vascularity and vessel hypertrophy in the decidua. The assessment of feto–placental haemodynamics showed higher resistance and pulsatility indices at the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in fetuses treated with SC when compared with Group R, which had increased systolic peak and time-averaged mean velocities at the MCA. Furthermore, fetuses in the SC group had significantly higher biparietal and thoracic diameters and longer crown–rump lengths than fetuses in Group R. Hence, the SC group had a reduced IUGR rate and a higher kit size at birth compared with Group R. In conclusion, SC may provide potential benefits in pregnancies with placental insufficiency and IUGR, partially counteracting the negative effects of food restriction on placental development and fetal growth. However, the present study also found evidence of a possible blood overflow in the brain that warrants further investigation

Heart failure in COVID-19 patients: prevalence, incidence and prognostic implications

Aims: Data on the impact of COVID-19 in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and its potential to trigger acute heart failure (AHF) are lacking. The aim of this work was to study characteristics, cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection and a prior diagnosis of heart failure (HF). Further aims included the identification of predictors and prognostic implications for AHF decompensation during hospital admission and the determination of a potential correlation between the withdrawal of HF guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and worse outcomes during hospitalization. Methods and results: Data for a total of 3080 consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection and follow-up of at least 30 days were analysed. Patients with a previous history of CHF (n = 152, 4.9%) were more prone to the development of AHF (11.2% vs. 2.1%; P < 0.001) and had higher levels of N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide. In addition, patients with previous CHF had higher mortality rates (48.7% vs. 19.0%; P < 0.001). In contrast, 77 patients (2.5%) were diagnosed with AHF, which in the vast majority of cases (77.9%) developed in patients without a history of HF. Arrhythmias during hospital admission and CHF were the main predictors of AHF. Patients developing AHF had significantly higher mortality (46.8% vs. 19.7%; P < 0.001). Finally, the withdrawal of beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers was associated with a significant increase in in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: Patients with COVID-19 have a significant incidence of AHF, which is associated with very high mortality rates. Moreover, patients with a history of CHF are prone to developing acute decompensation after a COVID-19 diagnosis. The withdrawal of GDMT was associated with higher mortalit

Estudio mediante técnicas no invasivas del efecto de la programación fetal sobre el crecimiento postnatal en el cerdo ibérico

La investigación en ganado porcino se caracteriza por su doble utilidad en Producción Animal y como modelo para Medicina Humana. El cerdo es uno de los modelos de obesidad más empleados en nvestigación biomédica. Entre las diferentes razas porcinas, el cerdo Ibérico se caracteriza por presentar un polimorfismo en el gen que codifica el receptor de la leptina, que constituye un síndrome de resistencia a la leptina¿ similar al encontrado en humanos y que condiciona su elevada tendencia al engrasamiento y desarrollo de obesidad. Estudios recientes realizados en otras especies animales confirman que los síndromes de obesidad y alteraciones metabólicas no sólo están modulados por caracteres genéticos sino también por modificaciones epigenéticas relacionadas con el nivel nutricional de la madre durante la fase prenatal. Este concepto se conoce como Programación del desarrollo.El objetivo del presente trabajo consistió en valorar los efectos de la programación fetal, en respuesta a cambios en la nutrición materna durante la gestación, sobre el metabolismo, desarrollo y composición corporal de la descendencia durante el periodopostnatal y hasta alcanzar el peso adulto en el cerdo Ibérico, así como su modulación en base al sexo del individuo.Para ello se utilizaron cerdos Ibéricos procedentes de distintos grupos experimentales, diferenciados por el plano nutricional de sus madres durante la gestación (alimentadas en exceso o en defecto), y por la dieta durante el periodo de Crecimiento juvenil.En estos animales se estudió el desarrollo postnatal mediante técnicas morfométricas y el engrasamiento mediante técnicas de imagen (ultrasonografía y resonancia magnética (RM)). Además, se analizaron parámetros bioquímicos relacionados con el metabolismo.Para la utilización de la RM se desarrolló un protocolo de exploración de las regiones anatómicas de interés (RAIs) y los puntos de medición más relevantes.Los resultados de este primer experimento indicaron que las tres RAIs útiles se encontraban a la altura del pilar diafragmático y a nivel de la segunda y tercera vértebra lumbar. Una vez puesta a punto, se aplicó de manera rutinaria la técnica de RM. En el segundo experimento se determinó el efecto de la malnutrición materna, por exceso o por defecto y en distintas etapas de la gestación, sobre los patrones de crecimiento, adiposidad y características metabólicas de la descendencia tras exponer a ésta a un ambiente obesogénico durante el desarrollo juvenil; asimismo, se evaluó el efecto modulador del sexo del individuo. En el tercer experimento se llevó a cabo el mismo estudio en hembras nacidas de madres con restricción nutricional durante los dos últimos tercios de gestación, que induciría procesos de retraso del crecimiento intrauterino; en este caso, la descendencia fue expuesta a un ambiente postnatal adecuado (con alimentación controlada y posibilidad de ejercicio), no obesogénico.Los resultados de ambos experimentos muestran que las modificaciones en la nutrición materna durante la gestación, producen cambios significativos sobre el fenotipo de la descendencia al nacimiento. Sin embargo, este fenotipo está fuertemente modulado por la nutrición postnatal, de manera que el consumo de dietas hipercalóricas durante el periodo juvenil, durante el proceso de recría o de cebo, conlleva un excesivo engrasamiento en estos animales, sin embargo, la presencia de un ambiente postnatal adecuado evita los altos niveles de engrasamiento, las alteraciones en el metabolismo glucídico y lipídico y por tanto, el desarrollo del Síndrome Metabólico.Estos resultados en el ámbito de la Producción Animal, puede constituir una estrategia de manejo ganadero que dé lugar a una progenie más sana, más productiva y a una posible mejora de las características de los tejidos. En el ámbito de la Biomedicina, amplía los conocimientos de la programación del desarrollo y permite ratificar al cerdo Ibérico como modelo translacional en este campo de la investigació

Reduced plasma levels of Ang-2 and sEng as novel biomarkers in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT)

6 páginas, 2 figuras, 4 tablas -- PAGS. nros. 494-499Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT; OMIM 187300) is an autosomal dominant vascular disorder characterized by telangiectases and internal arteriovenous malformations caused by mutations in certain elements of the TGF-β receptor complex. In the case of HHT1 mutations in the endoglin gene are responsible, whereas mutations in the ALK1 gene (an activin receptor-like kinase 1), lead to HHT2. Another two loci found at chromosome 5 and chromosome 7, whose target genes remain unidentified, lead to types 3 and 4 of the disease, respectively. Mutations in the MADH4/SMAD4 gene, another member of the TGF-β signalling pathway, lead to a combined syndrome of familial juvenile polyposis associated with HHTThis work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (SAF2007-61827 to Carmelo Bernabeu and SAF08-01218 to Luisa Botella), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII-CIBER Carmelo Bernabeu 06/07/0038 and ISCIII-RETICC RD06/0020) and the Fundación Ramón Areces of Spain (2007 grant for rare diseasesPeer reviewe

Parental Incarceration, Development, and Well-Being: A Developmental Systematic Review

Despite an increasing number of studies examining the impact of parental incarceration on children’s well-being, there are few comprehensive reviews that collect this information, and even fewer from a developmental perspective. This study aims to clarify the effects of parental incarceration on children’s well-being and development, as well as the moderating and mediating factors from a developmental perspective. A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, selecting 61 studies of children from early childhood to adolescence. The results show differences in the current evidence regarding the effects of parental incarceration on children depending on the developmental stage, with the most evidence in the 7–11-year-old stage. Being male appears as a risk moderator factor while the mental health of the caregiver and their relationship with the child appears as a mediating variable, especially from 7 to 18 years old. These results reveal the impact of parental incarceration based on children’s age, providing a basis for developing protective and intervention measures

Characterization of early changes in fetoplacental hemodynamics in a diet-induced rabbit model of IUGR

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and late-onset diseases in offspring. Eating disorders, voluntary caloric restriction and maternal undernutrition can all induce IUGR but a relevant model is required to measure all its possible consequences. In this work, pregnant rabbits were used as an IUGR model. Control females (n=4) received ad libitum diet throughout pregnancy, whereas underfed females (n=5) were restricted to 50% of their daily requirements. Offspring size was measured by ultrasonography and in vivo at birth. Hemodynamic features of the umbilical cords and middle cerebral arteries (systolic peak velocity, end diastolic velocity, pulsatility index and resistance index) were characterized by Doppler ultrasonography. At day 21, maternal underfeeding resulted in a significant reduction of fetal size (occipito-nasal length). At birth, the size of kits from the underfed group was significantly lower (lower crown-rump length, biparietal and transversal thoracic diameters) and a reduced weight with respect to the control group. Feed restriction altered blood flow perfusion compared with does fed ad libitum (significant higher systolic peak, time-averaged mean velocities and lower end diastolic velocity). Fetuses affected by IUGR presented with compensative brain-sparing effects when compared with the control group. In conclusion, the present study supports using rabbits and the underfeeding approach as a valuable model for IUGR studies. These results may help to characterize IUGR alterations due to nutrient restriction of mothers in future research.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (España)Depto. de Producción AnimalDepto. de Medicina y Cirugía AnimalFac. de VeterinariaTRUEpu

Metformin alleviates obesity and systemic oxidative stress in obese young swine

The present study assessed the relationship between obesity induced by lifestyle and systemic oxidative stress and possible modulations by oral metformin treatments in young individuals, by using a translational swine model of obesity and associated cardiometabolic disorders (Iberian pig). The results indicate the existence of an age-related increase in both adiposity and systemic oxidative stress (using hydrogen peroxide as a marker), which is higher in individuals with obesogenic lifestyle and increased weight and obesity. Such effect was not found in individuals treated with metformin. The translation of these results suggests that childhood obesity increases production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and therefore systemic oxidative stress. Treatment with metformin would improve such oxidative status

The impact of prenatal environment on postnatal life and performance: future perspectives for prevention and treatment

La presente revisión tiene como objetivo ofrecer un resumen no exhaustivo de las perspectivas actuales y futuras sobre herramientas de manejo y terapéuticas para la restricción del crecimiento intrauterino (RCIU) y la programación prenatal asociada en especies humanas y animales. Los animales se utilizan como modelos para el estudio de fenómenos relacionados con la RCIU, pero también para la investigación en terapias prenatales con el objetivo principal de diseñar y desarrollar estrategias preventivas y terapéuticas. Actualmente, la investigación está prestando atención a los tratamientos farmacológicos y estrategias nutricionales centrados en la madre, pero también a los tratamientos centrados en el feto. Tratamientos centrados en el feto, administrados directamente en el feto o mediante infusión de cordón umbilical, saco amniótico o placenta, lo que evita la administración de sustancias a altas dosis a la madre para permitir su disponibilidad a nivel fetoplacentario. Los resultados obtenidos en esta área de investigación con animales grandes (conejos, cerdos y rumiantes) tienen un doble interés, para la biomedicina traslacional y para la medicina veterinaria y la producción animal.The present review aims to offer a non-comprehensive outline of the current state-of-the-art and future perspectives on management and therapeutic tools for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and associated prenatal programming in both human and animal species. Animals are used as models for the study of phenomena related to IUGR, but also for research on prenatal therapies with the main objective of designing and developing preventive and therapeutic strategies. The research is currently paying attention on maternal-focused pharmacological treatments and nutritional strategies but also on fetal-focused treatments. Fetal-focused treatments, administered either directly at the fetus or by using infusion of umbilical cord, amniotic sac or placenta, which avoids the administration of substances at high doses to the mother for allowing their availability at the fetoplacental level. The results obtained in this area of research using large animals (rabbits, pigs and ruminants) have a dual interest, for translational biomedicine and for veterinary medicine and animal production