Comparación de dos modalidades de exámenes virtuales universitarios en Didáctica de Ciencias

Salvador Aljazairi - Universidad de Granada - 0000-0002-1564-9860Inmaculada Salcedo-Bellido - Universidad de Granada - 0000-0003-4601-198XRocío Barrios-Rodríguez - Universidad de Granada - 0000-0002-8772-636XPilar Requena - Universidad de Granada - 0000-0002-2298-4085Recepción: 20.04.2022 | Aceptado: 03.05.2022Correspondencia a través de ORCID: Rocío Barrios Rodríguez - 0000-0002-8772-636XÁrea o categoría del conocimiento: Didácticas de Ciencias ExperimentalesAbstract: Studies about online assessment paying attention to student experiences are scarce. However, the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced universities to adapt very fast to online teaching, which allowed us to analyze the virtual exam modality. We aimed to compare the mark obtained by students in oral and multiple-choice question (MCQ) exams performed online, and to evaluate the students’ satisfaction about them through an anonymous questionnaire. Students enrolled in two subjects of Didactics Sciences area were invited to participate. The exam mark could range from 0 (the worst possible outcome) to 10 (the best one). Results: The participation was high because 90.0% of students took both exams and 87.0% of them filled out the satisfaction questionnaire. Oral exam marks (median=7.0) were significantly higher than the MCQ ones (median=6.3). However, students felt more comfortable and expressed they were more able to show their knowledge with the MCQ than with the oral exam. The main reason why oral exam did not satisfy the students was that “it made them nervous” and “Not doing it” was the most common student answer to improve the oral exam. Conclusion: Although the oral exam benefited students’ mark, it did not satisfy most students.Resumen: La pandemia por Coronavirus (COVID-19) obligó a las universidades a adaptarse rápidamente a la enseñanza virtual pero los estudios sobre la evaluación no presencial son escasos. Objetivo: comparar la calificación de exámenes orales y de preguntas de opción múltiple (tipo test) virtuales, y evaluar la satisfacción con un cuestionario anónimo, en alumnado del área de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales durante el confinamiento. La calificación de los exámenes oscilaba entre 0 (peor resultado) y 10 (mejor). Resultados: 90% de los alumnos realizaron ambos exámenes y 87% respondieron el cuestionario de satisfacción. La calificación media del examen oral (mediana=7.0) fue mayor que las del tipo test (mediana=6.3). Sin embargo, todos los indicadores de satisfacción del examen tipo test obtuvieron mejores puntuaciones que el oral, excepto en la adecuación de la duración del examen. Los estudiantes se sintieron más cómodos y expresaron que eran más capaces de mostrar sus conocimientos con el tipo test. La principal razón por la que los estudiantes no estuvieron satisfechos con el examen oral fue “nerviosismo”. La respuesta más común sobre cómo mejorar el examen oral fue “no hacerlo”. Conclusión: Aunque el examen oral benefició la calificación de los estudiantes, no satisfizo a la mayoría de los ellos

Las estrategias comunicativas interpersonales en el desarrollo de las casas hospedaje del distrito de Cusco

El presente documento es de tipo aplicativo, descriptivo y correlacional, dirigida a promover soluciones concretas, puesto que en este trabajo de investigación se propone un Plan Estratégico de Comunicación Organizacional, a partir del trabajo que se realizan en las casas hospedaje del Centro Histórico de Cusco, de esta forma se establece la relación causa-efecto. Para los fines de nuestra investigación se hace uso del método de muestreo no probabilístico, se consideró a los diversos actores involucrados en el proceso de comunicación organizacional: directivos, trabajadores y colaboradores de las casas hospedajes, es de suma importancia obtener la selección de la muestra; porque de la representatividad de la misma depende la generalización de los resultados siguientes: La comunicación organizacional es una herramienta importante en las casas hospedaje, que influye positivamente en sus trabajadores, brindando un servicio que contribuye al logro del desarrollo institucional beneficiando íntegramente a trabajadores y huéspedes. No se hace un uso adecuado de los diversos medios de comunicación que promuevan las actividades de integración, lo que dificulta el trato adecuado a los huéspedes. La comunicación organizacional, viene a ser la columna vertebral de estas instituciones, aunque no se maneja un plan estratégico de comunicación, La dirección de flujo comunicativo es de tipo vertical, que se constituye en una barrera en las relaciones interpersonales. Se elaboró una propuesta de plan de comunicación organizacional basado en el modelo de comunicación de las casas hospedaje, rescatando las actividades estratégicas consideradas en un calendario anual y la realidad comunicativa hallada durante la investigación

Dietary Diversity and Prostate Cancer in a Spanish Adult Population: CAPLIFE Study

The authors wish to thank all subjects who participated in the study as well as all CAPLIFE collaborators. The authors also thank Ingrid de Ruiter for English editing support.Dietary diversity (DD) is a key component of a high-quality diet, providing the adequate nutrient requirements. However, the role of DD on prostate cancer (PCa) is still uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between DD, adequate nutrient intake and PCa, according to the aggressiveness of the tumor. The CAPLIFE (CAP: prostate cancer; LIFE: lifestyles) study is a population-based case-control study including a total of 402 incident PCa cases and 302 controls. The DD score (DDS), adjusted by total energy intake, was collected through a validated food frequency questionnaire. Nutrient adequacy was defined according to European Dietary Recommendation Intake for men. The aggressiveness of PCa was determined according to the International Society of Urology Pathology classification. The association between DDS, nutrient intake and PCa was assessed by logistic regression models with adjustment for potential confounding factors. DDS was similar for PCa cases and controls, independent of PCa aggressiveness. According to each food group DDS, the protein group showed the highest mean score in all the subgroups analyzed. However, no differences were observed for each of the DDS components. The DDS, the variety of the group’s food intake, and the adequate nutrient intake, were not associated with PCa.Regional Ministry of Health of Andalusia (Consejeria de Salud de la Junta de Andalucia) PI-0514-201

Factors associated with the development of second primary tumours in head and neck cancer patients

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada/CBUA. Study concepts: RBR. Study design: RBR, ISB, PR. Acquisition of data: RM, COR, ROR, MLL. Data analysis and interpretation: RBR, ISB, PR y JPA. Manuscript preparation: ISB, PR, RBR. Manuscript review: ISB, PR, RM, COR, ROR, MLL, JPA, RBR. Manuscript final approval: ISB, PR, RM, COR, ROR, MLL, JPA, RBR. Being accountable for all aspects of the work: ISB, PR, RM, COR, ROR, MLL, JPA, RBR.Introduction: The development of second primary tumours (SPTs) is one of the main causes of low survival in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). The aim of this study was to review the evidence about factors associated with developing SPTs in patients with HNC. Methods: An updated systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, and the search was performed in Pubmed and Scopus. Only original articles with a cohort or case-control design were included. Article quality was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results: Thirty-six and two case-control studies were included, with quality medium (n = 5) to high (n = 33). Tobacco showed a significant association with SPT development, with risks ranging from 1.41 (95%CI: 1.04-1.91) to 5.52 (95%CI: 2.91-10.49). Regarding alcohol, risks ranged from 1.46 (95%CI: 1.12-1.91) to 21.3 (95%CI: 2.9-156). Location of the index tumour in the hypopharynx/oropharynx, absence of human papillomavirus and presence of a premalignant lesion also increased the risk of SPTs. More controversy was found for sex, age and other clinical factors of the tumour. Conclusion: Toxic lifestyle habits and clinical factors were associated with the risk of SPTs in HNC patients. These findings may improve individualised prevention strategies in its follow-up.Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the grant ‘Ramon y Cajal’Universidad de Granada/CBUA (Funding for open access charge

Obatoclax and Paclitaxel Synergistically Induce Apoptosis and Overcome Paclitaxel Resistance in Urothelial Cancer Cells

Paclitaxel is a treatment option for advanced or metastatic bladder cancer after the failure of first-line cisplatin and gemcitabine, although resistance limits its clinical benefits. Mcl-1 is an anti-apoptotic protein that promotes resistance to paclitaxel in different tumors. Obatoclax, a BH3 mimetic of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, antagonizes Mcl-1 and hence may reverse paclitaxel resistance in Mcl-1-overexpressing tumors. In this study, paclitaxel-sensitive 5637 and -resistant HT1197 bladder cancer cells were treated with paclitaxel, obatoclax, or combinations of both. Apoptosis, cell cycle, and autophagy were measured by Western blot, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy. Moreover, Mcl-1 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in bladder carcinoma tissues. Our results confirmed that paclitaxel alone induced Mcl-1 downregulation and apoptosis in 5637, but not in HT1197 cells; however, combinations of obatoclax and paclitaxel sensitized HT1197 cells to the treatment. In obatoclax-treated 5637 and obatoclax + paclitaxel-treated HT1197 cells, the blockade of the autophagic flux correlated with apoptosis and was associated with caspase-dependent cleavage of beclin-1. Obatoclax alone delayed the cell cycle in 5637, but not in HT1197 cells, whereas combinations of both retarded the cell cycle and reduced mitotic slippage. In conclusion, obatoclax sensitizes HT1197 cells to paclitaxel-induced apoptosis through the blockade of the autophagic flux and effects on the cell cycle. Furthermore, Mcl-1 is overexpressed in many invasive bladder carcinomas, and it is related to tumor progression, so Mcl-1 expression may be of predictive value in bladder cancer.España, Sistema Público Andaluz Biobanco y ISCIII-Red de Biobancos PT17/0015/004

Reformulating Pro-Oxidant Microglia in Neurodegeneration

In neurodegenerative diseases, microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are central events. Recent genome-wide transcriptomic analyses of microglial cells under different disease conditions have uncovered a new subpopulation named disease-associated microglia (DAM). These studies have challenged the classical view of the microglia polarization state's proinflammatory M1 (classical activation) and immunosuppressive M2 (alternative activation). Molecular signatures of DAM and proinflammatory microglia (highly pro-oxidant) have shown clear differences, yet a partial overlapping gene profile is evident between both phenotypes. The switch activation of homeostatic microglia into reactive microglia relies on the selective activation of key surface receptors involved in the maintenance of brain homeostasis (a.k.a. pattern recognition receptors, PRRs). Two relevant PRRs are toll-like receptors (TLRs) and triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2), whose selective activation is believed to generate either a proinflammatory or a DAM phenotype, respectively. However, the recent identification of endogenous disease-related ligands, which bind to and activate both TLRs and TREM2, anticipates the existence of rather complex microglia responses. Examples of potential endogenous dual ligands include amyloid β, galectin-3, and apolipoprotein E. These pleiotropic ligands induce a microglia polarization that is more complicated than initially expected, suggesting the possibility that different microglia subtypes may coexist. This review highlights the main microglia polarization states under disease conditions and their leading role orchestrating oxidative stress

Psychological Impact of COVID-19 in the Setting of Dentistry: A Review Article

The worldwide pandemic has exposed healthcare professionals to a high risk of infection, exacerbating the situation of uncertainty caused by COVID-19. The objective of this review was to evaluate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental professionals and their patients. A literature review was conducted using Medline-Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, excluding systematic reviews, narratives, meta-analyses, case reports, book chapters, short communications, and congress papers. A modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the selected studies. The search retrieved 3879 articles, and 123 of these were selected for the review (7 longitudinal and 116 cross-sectional studies). Elevated anxiety levels were observed in dental professionals, especially in younger and female professionals. Except for orthodontic treatments, patients reported a high level of fear that reduced their demand for dentist treatment to emergency cases alone. The results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has had psychological and emotional consequences for dental professionals and their patients. Further research is necessary to evaluate the persistence of this problem over time.Universidad de Granada, Plan Propio de Investigacion PPJIA2021-3

Maternal seafood intake and the risk of small for gestational age newborns: a case–control study in Spanish women

Objective To investigate the relationship between seafood consumption during pregnancy and the risk of delivering a small for gestational age (SGA) newborn. Design This case–control study included women with SGA newborns and controls matched 1:1 for maternal age (±2 years) and hospital. Setting Five hospitals in Eastern Andalusia, Spain. Participants 518 pairs of pregnant Spanish women. The SGA group included women who delivered SGA newborns: SGA was defined as a birth weight below the 10th percentile of infants at a given gestational age. Controls were women who delivered newborns with adequate birth weights. Interventions We collected data on demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, toxic habits and diet. Midwives administered a 137-item Food Frequency Questionnaire. Outcome measures We calculated quintiles of seafood intake and applied conditional logistic regression to estimate ORs and 95% CIs. Results Shellfish intake more than once/week yielded a significant protective effect against an SGA newborn (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.76, after adjusting for energy, educational level, smoking, prepregnancy body mass index, weight and a history of preterm or low birthweight newborn). The risk of an SGA newborn was lower among women who consumed >29 g/day fish compared with women who consumed ≤8 g (adjusted OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.98; p=0.025 for a trend). Similarly, the risk of an SGA newborn was lower among women who consumed >1 g/day of marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids compared with those who consumed ≤0.4 g/day (adjusted OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.90; p=0.025 for a trend). Conclusion An average seafood intake of at least 29 g/ day during pregnancy, equivalent to 2–3 servings/week, reduced the risk of an SGA newborn, compared with an average seafood intake of less than 8 g/day.The National Institute of Health Carlos III (PI11/02199) supported this work

Health‑related quality of life in patients newly diagnosed with prostate cancer: CAPLIFE study

Funding Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada / CBUA. This research was funded by Regional Ministry of Health and Families of Andalusia/Consejería de Salud y Familias de la Junta de Andalucía (PI-0514-2016).Purpose To analyse the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) at diagnosis of patients with prostate cancer (PCa) according to tumour extension and urinary symptomatology and to explore factors associated with HRQoL. Methods 408 Controls and 463 PCa cases were included. Eligibility criteria were a new diagnosis of PCa (cases), 40–80 years of age, and residence in the participating hospitals’ coverage area for ≥ 6 months before recruitment. HRQoL was evaluated using the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey, Mental (MCS) and Physical Component Summaries (PCS), and urinary symptoms with the International Prostate Symptom Score. HRQoL scores for all PCa cases, according to tumour extension and urinary symptoms, were compared with controls. In addition, information about lifestyles and comorbidities was collected and its association with low HRQoL (lower scores) were explored using logistic regression models. Results Overall cases had similar PCS score, but lower MCS score than controls. The lowest standardised scores for both PCS and MCS were reached by cases with severe urinary symptoms and a metastatic tumour [mean (SD); PCS: 41.9 (11.5), MCS: 42.3 (10.3)]. Having “below” PCS and MCS scores was associated with the presence of three or more comorbidities in the cases [aOR = 2.86 (1.19–6.84) for PCS and aOR = 3.58 (1.37–9.31) for MCS] and with severe urinary symptomatology [aOR = 4.71 (1.84–12.08) for PCS and aOR = 7.63 (2.70–21.58) for MCS]. Conclusion The mental dimension of HRQoL at diagnosis of patients with PCa was lower than in controls, especially for cases with severe urinary symptoms and a metastatic tumour. Comorbidities and urinary symptoms were variables associated with the HRQoL of PCa cases.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada/CBUARegional Ministry of Health and Families of Andalusia/Consejería de Salud y Familias de la Junta de Andalucía (PI-0514-2016