Desarrollo de la Creatividad para fomentar el aprendizaje significativo de las Ciencias

Este Trabajo de Fin de Máster es un resumen de la contribución del Máster a mi labor como docente. También incluye una propuesta de innovación docente que desarrolla la creatividad para fomentar el aprendizaje significativo de las Ciencias. Los alumnos están acostumbrados a ver las Ciencias como una materia complicada, abstracta y poco útil, y suelen asociarla a memorizar unas fórmulas para luego aplicarlas en los ejercicios del examen. Esta forma de ver la Ciencia es sólo la punta del iceberg de lo que es la Ciencia, ya que es una herramienta necesaria para que una sociedad pueda desarrollarse y evolucionar. Por esto, es interesante plantear, dentro de las asignaturas de Ciencias, un proyecto de carácter multidisciplinar, que pueda ayudar a los alumnos a desarrollarse intelectualmente, tanto en el lado de la lógica como en la creatividad. Es una forma de dar oportunidad a la expresión y a las buenas ideas, con rigor científico, pero también con originalidad. La propuesta de innovación está dirigida, por ende, hacia “la transmisión de conocimientos a través de las imágenes”, que desemboca en la realización de un Cómic científico. Los objetivos principales de esta propuesta multidisciplinar son, por tanto, fomentar la creatividad de los alumnos, facilitar la comprensión de los conceptos, trabajar la lectura multimodal y lo más importante: motivar a los alumnos, desarrollando el gusto por la Ciencia y el Arte

Practical guidelines to manage discordant situations of SMN2 copy number in patients with spinal muscular atrophy

Objective Assessment of SMN2 copy number in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is essential to establish careful genotype-phenotype correlations and predict disease evolution. This issue is becoming crucial in the present scenario of therapeutic advances with the perspective of SMA neonatal screening and early diagnosis to initiate treatment, as this value is critical to stratify patients for clinical trials and to define those eligible to receive medication. Several technical pitfalls and interindividual variations may account for reported discrepancies in the estimation of SMN2 copy number and establishment of phenotype-genotype correlations. Methods We propose a management guide based on a sequence of specified actions once SMN2 copy number is determined for a given patient. Regardless of the method used to estimate the number of SMN2 copies, our approach focuses on the manifestations of the patient to recommend how to proceed in each case. Results We defined situations according to SMN2 copy number in a presymptomatic scenario of screening, in which we predict the possible evolution, and when a symptomatic patient is genetically confirmed. Unexpected discordant cases include patients having a single SMN2 copy but noncongenital disease forms, 2 SMN2 copies compatible with type II or III SMA, and 3 or 4 copies of the gene showing more severe disease than expected. Conclusions Our proposed guideline would help to systematically identify discordant SMA cases that warrant further genetic investigation. The SMN2 gene, as the main modifier of SMA phenotype, deserves a more in-depth study to provide more accurate genotype-phenotype correlations

Compassion-based therapy: emotional regulation, attachment and mental health

Los sucesos vitales estresantes (SVE) pueden influir en nuestras vinculaciones, y con ello en: la compasión, la regulación emocional y en nuestro bienestar físico y psicológico. El objetivo del presente artículo es proponer e implementar un programa de intervención basado en la compasión (TBC). Tras la firma del consentimiento informado, los participantes (n=8) respondieron cuestionarios sobre vinculaciones afectivas, regulación emocional, compasión, (SVE) y emocionalidad. Nuestros resultados previos al tratamiento muestran perfiles de desajuste marcados por la vinculación insegura, las dificultades de regulación, la baja autocompasión y la elevada emocionalidad negativa. Tras el tratamiento, fueron más ajustados, destacando una mejor salud mental. Como conclusión, creemos que la TBC puede mejorar la salud física y mental, a través del fortalecimiento de los vínculos de apegoStressful life events (EVS) can influence our attachments, and with it: compassion, emotional regulation and our physical and psychological well-being. The aim of this article is to propose and implement a compassionate intervention programme (CIP). After signing the informed consent form, the participants (n=8) answered questionnaires about emotional bonding, emotional regulation, compassion, (EVS) and emotionality. Our pre-treatment results show maladjustment profiles marked by insecure attachment, regulation difficulties, low self-compassion and high negative emotionality. After treatment, they were more adjusted, highlighting better mental health. As a conclusion, we believe that TB can improve physical and mental health, through the strengthening of attachment bond

Nomophobia and Its Relationship with Social Anxiety and Procrastination in Nursing Students: An Observational Study

Nomophobia is a phenomenon that describes the fear of not having one’s mobile phone accessible. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of nomophobia among nursing students as well as its relationship with procrastination and social anxiety. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 308 nursing students. Data were collected using the Nomophobia Questionnaire, Academic Procrastination Scale-Short Form, and Social Anxiety Questionnaire for Adults. Additionally, sociodemographic variables related to academic performance and smartphone use were collected. We performed a descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analysis of the Nomophobia Questionnaire score. Results: 19.5% (n = 60) of the students presented with or were at high risk of nomophobic behaviour. Moreover, nomophobic behaviour was positively correlated with high levels of social anxiety (p < 0.001), longer daily smartphone usage time (p < 0.001), and a high frequency of smartphone checking in class (p < 0.001). The predictive variables for nomophobic behaviour included age, variables related to smartphone use, social anxiety levels, work, procrastination tendency, sex, and self-reported average grade. Conclusion: One out of five students in the sample studied presented with or were at high risk of nomophobic behaviour. Additionally, nomophobic behaviour was associated with social anxiety and variables related to smartphone use. This study was not registered.This work has been funded by the Recognition of Educational Innovation Groups Program of Universitat Jaume I in 2022 (reference 46117)

Whole-exome sequencing reveals ZNF408 as a new gene associated with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa with vitreal alterations

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of progressive inherited retinal dystrophies that cause visual impairment as a result of photoreceptor cell death. RP is heterogeneous, both clinically and genetically making difficult to establish precise genotype–phenotype correlations. In a Spanish family with autosomal recessive RP (arRP), homozygosity mapping and whole-exome sequencing led to the identification of a homozygous mutation (c.358_359delGT; p.Ala122Leufs*2) in the ZNF408 gene. A screening performed in 217 additional unrelated families revealed another homozygous mutation (c.1621C>T; p.Arg541Cys) in an isolated RP case. ZNF408 encodes a transcription factor that harbors 10 predicted C2H2-type fingers thought to be implicated in DNA binding. To elucidate the ZNF408 role in the retina and the pathogenesis of these mutations we have performed different functional studies. By immunohistochemical analysis in healthy human retina, we identified that ZNF408 is expressed in both cone and rod photoreceptors, in a specific type of amacrine and ganglion cells, and in retinal blood vessels. ZNF408 revealed a cytoplasmic localization and a nuclear distribution in areas corresponding with the euchromatin fraction. Immunolocalization studies showed a partial mislocalization of the p.Arg541Cys mutant protein retaining part of the WT protein in the cytoplasm. Our study demonstrates that ZNF408, previously associated with Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), is a new gene causing arRP with vitreous condensations supporting the evidence that this protein plays additional functions into the human retina.This work is supported by CIBERER (06/07/0036), FIS (PI013/00226), Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness-FEDER (BFU2012-36845), RETICS (RD12/0034/0010), Fundación ONCE, Fundaluce and grants BIO2011-27069 from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, and PROMETEOII/2014/025 from the Conselleria de Educacio of the Valencia Community. PC is supported by Fundación Conchita Rábago (FCR), MC by Miguel Servet ISCIII (CP/03256) and dS by CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil

Palimpsestos y cambios culturales en el límite Pleistoceno-Holoceno: el conjunto lítico de Picamoixons (Alt Camp, Tarragona)

This paper presents the technological and typological study of the lithic assemblage recovered at Picamoixons during the field season carried out in 1993. Its technotypological features, the differential conservation of the assemblage, the spatial distribution of lithic remains and the radiometric dates allow us to divide the assemblage into two different sets and suggest that they belong to different chronological and cultural periods. The items included in the first one (CP) show a strong patina and should be included in the macrolithic Mesolithic, while the second one’s items (CNP) are not patinated and belong to the final part of upper Palaeolithic.En este artículo se presenta el análisis tecnológico y tipológico de la industria lítica recuperada en el año 1993 en el yacimiento de Picamoixons. Dadas sus características, su estado de conservación diferencial, su distribución espacial y las dataciones radiométricas disponibles, podemos concluir la existencia de dos conjuntos líticos pertenecientes a dos momentos cronológicos y culturales diferentes. El primero es el conjunto patinado (CP) que debería incluirse dentro del Mesolítico macrolítico, y el segundo conjunto es el no patinado (CNP) perteneciente a los momentos finales del Paleolítico superior

Incidence and Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer After Heart Transplantation: Data From the Spanish Post-Heart Transplant Tumor Registry

In this observational and multicenter study, that included all patients who underwent a heart transplantation (HT) in Spain from 1984 to 2018, we analyzed the incidence, management, and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) after HT. Of 6,244 patients with a HT and a median follow-up of 8.8 years since the procedure, 116 CRC cases (11.5% of noncutaneous solid cancers other than lymphoma registered) were diagnosed, mainly adenocarcinomas, after a mean of 9.3 years post-HT. The incidence of CRC increased with age at HT from 56.6 per 100,000 person-years among under 45 year olds to 436.4 per 100,000 person-years among over 64 year olds. The incidence rates for age-at-diagnosis groups were significantly greater than those estimated for the general Spanish population. Curative surgery, performed for 62 of 74 operable tumors, increased the probability of patient survival since a diagnosis of CRC, from 31.6% to 75.7% at 2 years, and from 15.8% to 48.6% at 5 years, compared to patients with inoperable tumors. Our results suggest that the incidence of CRC among HT patients is greater than in the general population, increasing with age at HT

Risk and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with multiple sclerosis

Background and purpose Limited information is available on incidence and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study investigated the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related outcomes in patients with MS, and compared these with the general population. Methods A regional registry was created to collect data on incidence, hospitalization rates, intensive care unit admission, and death in patients with MS and COVID-19. National government outcomes and seroprevalence data were used for comparison. The study was conducted at 14 specialist MS treatment centers in Madrid, Spain, between February and May 2020. Results Two-hundred nineteen patients were included in the registry, 51 of whom were hospitalized with COVID-19. The mean age ± standard deviation was 45.3 ± 12.4 years, and the mean duration of MS was 11.9 ± 8.9 years. The infection incidence rate was lower in patients with MS than the general population (adjusted incidence rate ratio = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.70–0.80), but hospitalization rates were higher (relative risk = 5.03, 95% CI = 3.76–6.62). Disease severity was generally low, with only one admission to an intensive care unit and five deaths. Males with MS had higher incidence rates and risk of hospitalization than females. No association was found between the use of any disease-modifying treatment and hospitalization risk. Conclusions Patients with MS do not appear to have greater risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe COVID-19 outcomes compared with the general population. The decision to start or continue disease-modifying treatment should be based on a careful risk–benefit assessment.post-print996 K

Thrombectomy within 8 hours after symptom onset in ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of thrombectomy for the treatment of stroke in a trial embedded within a population-based stroke reperfusion registry. METHODS: During a 2-year period at four centers in Catalonia, Spain, we randomly assigned 206 patients who could be treated within 8 hours after the onset of symptoms of acute ischemic stroke to receive either medical therapy (including intravenous alteplase when eligible) and endovascular therapy with the Solitaire stent retriever (thrombectomy group) or medical therapy alone (control group). All patients had confirmed proximal anterior circulation occlusion and the absence of a large infarct on neuroimaging. In all study patients, the use of alteplase either did not achieve revascularization or was contraindicated. The primary outcome was the severity of global disability at 90 days, as measured on the modified Rankin scale (ranging from 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]). Although the maximum planned sample size was 690, enrollment was halted early because of loss of equipoise after positive results for thrombectomy were reported from other similar trials. RESULTS Thrombectomy reduced the severity of disability over the range of the modified Rankin scale (adjusted odds ratio for improvement of 1 point, 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05 to 2.8) and led to higher rates of functional independence (a score of 0 to 2) at 90 days (43.7% vs. 28.2%; adjusted odds ratio, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.0). At 90 days, the rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage were 1.9% in both the thrombectomy group and the control group (P = 1.00), and rates of death were 18.4% and 15.5%, respectively (P = 0.60). Registry data indicated that only eight patients who met the eligibility criteria were treated outside the trial at participating hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with anterior circulation stroke who could be treated within 8 hours after symptom onset, stent retriever thrombectomy reduced the severity of post-stroke disability and increased the rate of functional independence