The Quantum Echo of the Early Universe

We show that the fluctuations of quantum fields as seen by late comoving observers are significantly influenced by the history of the early Universe, and therefore they transmit information about the nature of spacetime in timescales when quantum gravitational effects were non-negligible. We discuss how this may be observable even nowadays, and thus used to build falsifiability tests of quantum gravity theories.Comment: 3 pages. 2 Figures. Proceedings Theory Canada 9. Published in Canadian Journal of Physics. (http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjp-2014-0567

Violation of the strong Huygen's principle and timelike signals from the early Universe

We analyze the implications of the violations of the strong Huygens principle in the transmission of information from the early universe to the current era via massless fields. We show that much more information reaches us through timelike channels (not mediated by real photons) than it is carried by rays of light, which are usually regarded as the only carriers of information.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. RevTeX 4.1. V2: Updated to match published version. Previous title "A glimpse of the early universe without real light" modified to match Physical Review Letters published versio

Manifestaciones psiquiátricas en una paciente con mutación de novo en 1p36.33. Análisis genético clínico

La información genética en la discapacidad intelectual es valiosa porque puede establecer una explicación causal. Esta información evita consultas adicionales y muchos tipos de análisis genéticos; permite el acceso temprano a servicios comunitarios que pueden mejorar el trastorno cognitivo o de comportamiento; aporta estimaciones de riesgos de recurrencia para toma de decisiones reproductivas y permite entender el pronóstico y necesidades futuras. Numerosas trastornos genéticos humanos resultan de alteraciones cromosómicas no balanceadas, en las que hay o una ganancia o una pérdida de material genético neto. Tradicionalmente, los citogenetistas detectaban este tipo de alteraciones mediante el análisis del cariotipo de los pacientes en cuestión, analizando los patrones en banda en los cromosomas (1).Gracias a este tipo de técnicas de detección molecular pudieron ser descritos diversos síndromes entre los que se puede destacar el Sindrome de DiGeorge o el Sindrome de Prader-Willi como los más frecuentes. Sin embargo, en los últimos años, el desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías ha permitido importantes avances en el diagnostico citogenético y en el papel que desempeñan las variaciones en el número de copias de segmentos genómicos en la variabilidad genética y en la patogénesis de enfermedades. Entre las muchas de estas técnicas novedosas podemos encontrar, por ejemplo, la técnica FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) que a través de marcados fluorescente permite encontrar posiciones exactas de secuencias específicas de DNA en los cromosomas. Aún más eficiente y útil (y la técnica utilizada en el estudio del paciente que se presenta), es el uso de microarrays de hibridación genómica comparativa (aCGH). Esta técnica permite realizar un screening en todo el genoma en busca de variaciones en el número de copias. (1)OtroGrado en Medicin

CB₂R cannanoid receptor as therapeutic target and prognostic/predictive tool in HER2+brest cancer

Tesis de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, leída el 16-11-2018El cáncer de mama es una de las enfermedades más frecuentes en todo el mundo y representa un importante problema de salud pública. Se trata de una enfermedad muy heterogénea que se clasifica en distintos subtipos atendiendo a marcadores moleculares. Uno de ellos se caracteriza por la sobre expresión del receptor del factor de crecimiento epidérmico 2 (HER2), y representa un 20%-25% de todos los cánceres de mama diagnosticados. Aunque estos tumores son muy agresivos, el pronóstico de las pacientes ha mejorado enormemente con el desarrollo de terapias dirigidas contra este receptor. Sin embargo, las tasas de resistencia innata y adquirida son muy elevadas y, por tanto, sigue siendo necesaria la búsqueda de tanto nuevos tratamientos para estas pacientes, como de herramientas que permitan la identificación temprana de aquellas con alto riesgo de no responder a terapias estándar o de recaer..Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies worldwide and represents an important public health problem. This disease is very heterogeneous and is subclassified in different subtypes according to molecular markers. One of them is characterized by the over expression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and represents 20%–25% of all breast carcinomas. Although these tumors are very aggressive, the clinical outcome of HER2+ breast cancer patients has greatly improved with the development of targeted therapies against this receptor. However the innate and acquired resistance rates to these therapies are still significant and therefore, new therapies are urgently warranted for these patients as well as new tools to identify those at a higher risk of not responding or recurring...Fac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEunpu

"It doesn’t exist, only other people have it, or it’s bad luck": perceptions of HIV as barriers to its prevention in Bata

Background: Currently, Africa is the region of the world where the highest number of new cases of HIV infection are registered. In 2022, Equatorial Guinea was the Central African country with the highest HIV prevalence (6.9%) and incidence (3.80 per 1,000 amongst the population of all ages). The main objective of this study was to determine the perceptions of HIV and the meanings given to it among the population of Equatorial Guinea in order to assess to what extent they represent a barrier to the prevention strategies implemented hitherto. Methods: A total of 30 semi-structured interviews and nine focal groups were carried out. Findings The interviewees’ testimonies revealed a combination of differing perceptions and meanings around HIV. In some cases, HIV was perceived as “a non-existent illness”, and in others as “a disease of others”, or as “a disease of bad luck”. Other majority perceptions of HIV classed it as “a deadly disease” or “a sexual illness”. Conclusions: All these perceptions of HIV and the social representations constructed around it can represent a barrier to adopting preventive practices. Hence, in order to improve efficacy, efficiency, and effectiveness, it is recommended that HIV prevention policies take into account the heterogeneity of meanings linked to the different social groups that have contracted the virus.Funding was provided by the Spanish Cooperation Agency and the Carlos III Health Institute National Center for Tropical Medicine. The Spanish Cooperation Agency contributed funds to carry out the study and the Carlos III Health Institute National Center for Tropical Medicine contributed to the financing, design and performance of the study.Departamento de Sociología y Trabajo Socia

Factors associated with Chagas screening among immigrants from an endemic country in Madrid, Spain

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 120,000 people live with Chagas disease in Europe, 43% of whom are living in Spain. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to improve outcomes for those living with Chagas, and also for the prevention of ongoing transmission. The decision to be tested for Chagas is affected by a range of factors. Studies have highlighted the need to consider the wider social determinants of healthcare seeking behaviour related to Chagas. In Madrid, 44% of Bolivians undergo Chagas screening, which is a higher rate than other European regions, but studies concerning the factors which determine testing have not been performed. This study aimed to assess, for a first time, the factors associated with screening for Chagas among Bolivians living in Madrid trying to help in developing strategies and health recommendations. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey about knowledge of Chagas and practices of Bolivians living in Madrid, Spain. A structured questionnaire was administered to 376 participants regarding Chagas health-seeking behaviour. Determinants were assessed by multiple logistic regressions adjusted by sex. RESULTS: After adjusting for others variables and sex, the factors shown to be associated with Chagas screening were to have between 35 and 54 years of age; coming from a department with high prevalence of Chagas (OR 2.17 95% CI 0.99-4.76); received information about Chagas in Spain (OR 2.44 95% CI 1.32-4.51); and received any advice to do the test, especially if the advice came from a professional. CONCLUSIONS: Health authorities should coordinate and promote strategies addressed to diagnose and treat Chagas taking into account all factors associated with screening. Our study suggests that professional advice appears to be the cornerstone to encourage Bolivians to undergo Chagas screening in Madrid. It is time to change the burden of the decision of being screened from the patient to the doctor. Being diagnosed for Chagas needs to become an institutional strategy.This study was funding by the Insituto de Salud Carlos III (www.isciii.es)PI15CIII/00047 to TBH. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Editorial: The Canonical and Non-Canonical Endocannabinoid System as a Target in Cancer and Acute and Chronic Pain.

Editorial pape