Shiatsu and Acupressure: Two Different and Distinct Techniques

Background: Although shiatsu has been taught in specialized schools in Japan since 1940, there is a limited amount of research for its practice. As a result, authors substitute shiatsu with acupressure to use available research on acupressure. It is the position of the authors that, while the two share common aspects, they are substantively different. This project was undertaken to describe technical differences and advocate for a clear distinction, especially in research studies and academic discussions.Methods: To understand whether it is appropriate to include acupressure studies in the evidence for shiatsu an analysis of the references included in a frequently cited systematic review was conducted to collect information about the protocols. In addition, a preliminary exploration of shiatsu practitioners’ perceptions about the differences between shiatsu and acupressure is described. This exploration used videos of shiatsu and acupressure techniques and asked practitioners to comment on their perception of similarity.Discussion: The results identified several key technical differences between the two, including type of pressure applied, the positioning of the thumb, and the way in which body weight is used. Researchers should separate shiatsu and acupressure in their designs and purposively choose one or the other. To facilitate such clarification, we have proposed a definition for shiatsu that may facilitate the differentiation between these two techniques.Conclusion: The authors hope to stimulate discussion about the differences between shiatsu and acupressure, and to question the appropriateness of using acupressure studies as evidence of the efficacy of shiatsu. A true understanding of the efficacy of shiatsu cannot be determined until studies use a common definition of shiatsu and discontinue substituting acupressure research for evidence of shiatsu efficacy. When this happens, it is proposed that a clearer picture of the safety, efficacy, and mechanism of action of both shiatsu and acupressure will emerge

Estrogen Prevents Oxidative Damage to the Mitochondria in Friedreich's Ataxia Skin Fibroblasts

Estrogen and estrogen-related compounds have been shown to have very potent cytoprotective properties in a wide range of disease models, including an in vitro model of Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA). This study describes a potential estrogen receptor (ER)-independent mechanism by which estrogens act to protect human FRDA skin fibroblasts from a BSO-induced oxidative insult resulting from inhibition of de novo glutathione (GSH) synthesis. We demonstrate that phenolic estrogens, independent of any known ER, are able to prevent lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) collapse, maintain ATP at near control levels, increase oxidative phosphorylation and maintain activity of aconitase. Estrogens did not, however, prevent BSO from depleting GSH or induce an increased expression level of GSH. The cytoprotective effects of estrogen appear to be due to a direct overall reduction in oxidative damage to the mitochondria, enabling the FRDA fibroblast mitochondria to generate sufficient ATP for energy requirements and better survive oxidative stress. These data support the hypothesis that phenol ring containing estrogens are possible candidate drugs for the delay and/or prevention of FRDA symptoms

Early mobilisation in critically ill COVID-19 patients: a subanalysis of the ESICM-initiated UNITE-COVID observational study

Background Early mobilisation (EM) is an intervention that may improve the outcome of critically ill patients. There is limited data on EM in COVID-19 patients and its use during the first pandemic wave. Methods This is a pre-planned subanalysis of the ESICM UNITE-COVID, an international multicenter observational study involving critically ill COVID-19 patients in the ICU between February 15th and May 15th, 2020. We analysed variables associated with the initiation of EM (within 72 h of ICU admission) and explored the impact of EM on mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay, as well as discharge location. Statistical analyses were done using (generalised) linear mixed-effect models and ANOVAs. Results Mobilisation data from 4190 patients from 280 ICUs in 45 countries were analysed. 1114 (26.6%) of these patients received mobilisation within 72 h after ICU admission; 3076 (73.4%) did not. In our analysis of factors associated with EM, mechanical ventilation at admission (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.25, 0.35; p = 0.001), higher age (OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.98, 1.00; p ≤ 0.001), pre-existing asthma (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.73, 0.98; p = 0.028), and pre-existing kidney disease (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.71, 0.99; p = 0.036) were negatively associated with the initiation of EM. EM was associated with a higher chance of being discharged home (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.08, 1.58; p = 0.007) but was not associated with length of stay in ICU (adj. difference 0.91 days; 95% CI − 0.47, 1.37, p = 0.34) and hospital (adj. difference 1.4 days; 95% CI − 0.62, 2.35, p = 0.24) or mortality (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.7, 1.09, p = 0.24) when adjusted for covariates. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that a quarter of COVID-19 patients received EM. There was no association found between EM in COVID-19 patients' ICU and hospital length of stay or mortality. However, EM in COVID-19 patients was associated with increased odds of being discharged home rather than to a care facility. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04836065 (retrospectively registered April 8th 2021)

Cartel y puzzle del taller Robot-Pintor 2014

Video de propaganda del taller ROBOT- PINTOR DEL EXPOCIENCIA 2014. Desarrollado con el grupo de innovación Arte Sano y el grupo de investigación GID-CoSaEd

Psicothema

Resumen tomado de la publicaciónDesarrollo y validación de la Escala SERR para la detección del extremismo y radicalismo religioso Antecedentes: en consonancia con la creciente violencia religiosa, política y social en todo el mundo, este estudio evalúa las propiedades psicométricas de la escala para la detección del extremismo y el radicalismo religioso (SERR), una medida de autoinforme del extremismo y el radicalismo religioso. Método: los análisis factoriales y las evidencias de validez y fiabilidad se recopilaron utilizando una muestra de 1985 participantes de 58 ciudades distintas de España que se identificaron a sí mismos como practicantes activos de su religión. Resultados: los análisis estadísticos de las puntuaciones SERR arrojaron puntuaciones de consistencia interna aceptables (? > .74) y confirmaron los factores clave asociados con el radicalismo y el extremismo. La estructura de la escala se confirmó como bidimensional (?²(64) = 361.22, p < .001, CFI = 0.976, TLI = 0.970, RMSEA (90% CI) = 0.089 (0.080 - 0.098), SRMR = 0.064). Las puntuaciones de la dimensión de extremismo se correlacionaron significativa y positivamente con las puntuaciones del mismo factor en la Escala de Intención de Activismo y Radicalismo (r = 0,32, p < 0.001, n = 139). Conclusiones: los autores concluyen que el SERR muestra una fiabilidad y validez adecuadas para evaluar el grado de extremismo y radicalismo en creyentes cristianos/católicos y musulmanes.ES

The Santa Filomena meteorite shower: Trajectory, classification, and opaque phases as indicators of metamorphic conditions

On August 19, 2020, at 13:18—UTC, a meteor event ended as a meteorite shower in Santa Filomena, a city in the Pernambuco State, northeast Brazil. The heliocentric orbital parameters resulting from images by cameras of the weather broadcasting system were semimajor axis a = 2.1 ± 0.1 au, eccentricity e = 0.55 ± 0.03, and inclination i = 0.15o ± 0.05. The data identified the body as an Apollo object, an Earth-crossing object with a pericenter interior to the Earth's orbit. The chemical, mineralogical, and petrological evaluations, as well as the physical analysis, followed several traditional techniques. The meteorite was identified as a H5-6 S4 W0 ordinary chondrite genomict breccia. The large amount of metal in the meteorite made a metallographic evaluation based on the opaque phases possible. The monocrystalline kamacite crystals suggest a higher petrological type and the distorted Neumann lines imply at least two different shock events. The absence of the plessite phase shows that the meteorite did not reach the highest shock levels S5 and S6. The well-defined polycrystalline taenite is indicative of petrologic types 4 and 5 due to the conserved internal tetrataenite rim at the boundaries. The presence of polycrystalline taenites and the characteristics of the Agrell Effect suggest that the Santa Filomena meteorite did not reheat above 700°C. The absence of martensite confirms reheating temperatures <800°C and a slow cooling rate. The Ni contents and sizes of the zoned taenite particles indicate a slow cooling rate ranging from 1 to 10 K Myr−1.Fil: Tosi, Amanda. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Zucolotto, Maria Elizabeth. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Andrade, Diana Paula. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Winter, Othon Cabo. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Cardozo Mourão, Daniela. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Sfair, Rafael. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Ziegler, Karen. University of New Mexico; Estados UnidosFil: Pérez, Pablo Daniel. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Suarez, Sergio Gabriel. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Ornellas, Iara Deniz. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Zurita, Marcelo Eduardo. No especifíca;Fil: Cezar Mendes, Julio. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Kellner, Alexander Wilhelm Armin. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Wolff, Wania. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasi

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method to measure fatty acids in biological samples

As pre-clinical and clinical research interest in ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increases, so does the need for a fast, accurate and reproducible analytical method to measure fatty acids (FA) in biological samples in order to validate potential prognostic and predictive biomarkers, as well as establishing compliance in ω-3 PUFA intervention trials. We developed a LC-ESI-MS/MS method suitable for high throughput development to measure FAs and validated it in the context of treatment with the ω-3 PUFA eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Uniquely we directly compared the LC-ESI-MS/MS method to a GC-MS protocol. We demonstrated the LC-ESI-MS/MS method is accurate and reproducible, with coefficients of variation consistently below 15% for each PUFA analysed. The relative FA content values correlated well with those obtained by GC-MS (r2 = 0.94, p < 0.001 for EPA) in vitro. The data obtained following analysis of FA content of liver tissues from mice fed an eicosapentaenoic acid enriched diet showed similar results to that of published studies in which GC-MS was used. The LC-ESI-MS/MS method allows concomitant analysis of unesterified (free, unbound) and esterified (bound) FAs in biological samples, allowing investigation of different PUFA pools in cells and tissues