Attentional Bias Modification Training in Virtual Reality: Evaluation of User Experience

Recent technological advances have paved the way for incorporating virtual reality (VR) into attentional bias modification training (ABMT) for the treatment of eating disorders. An important consideration in this therapeutic approach is ensuring the ease and comfort of users of the hardware and software, preventing them from becoming additional obstacles during treatment. To assess this, 68 healthy participants engaged in an ABMT experiment aimed at evaluating various factors, including usability as well as the participants’ comfort while using the VR equipment, task-induced fatigue, and attitudes towards the technology. Our results indicated a favorable usability level for the ABMT proposed in this study. While their discomfort, anxiety, and fatigue increased during the task, these did not significantly impact its execution. However, heightened anxiety and fatigue were linked to lower evaluations of software usability. Other variables considered in the experiment did not notably affect the task

Negative impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on the health-related quality of life of patients. Results of the EPIDEPOC study

BACKGROUND: COPD is currently the fourth cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. Patients with COPD experience a progressive deterioration and disability, which lead to a worsening in their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this work is to assess the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of patients with stable COPD followed in primary care and to identify possible predictors of disease. METHODS: It is a multicenter, epidemiological, observational, descriptive study. Subjects of both sexes, older than 40 years and diagnosed of COPD at least 12 months before starting the study were included. Sociodemographic data, severity of disease, comorbidity, and use of health resources in the previous 12 months were collected. All patients were administered a generic quality-of-life questionnaire, the SF-12, that enables to calculate two scores, the physical (PCS-12) and the mental (MCS-12) component summary scores. RESULTS: 10,711 patients were evaluated (75.6% men, 24.4% women), with a mean age of 67.1 years (SD 9.66). The mean value of FEV(1 )was 35.9 ± 10.0%. Mean PCS-12 and MCS-12 scores were 36.0 ± 9.9 and 48.3 ± 10.9, respectively. Compared to the reference population, patients with COPD had a reduction of PCS-12, even in mild stages of the disease. The correlation with FEV(1 )was higher for PCS-12 (r = 0.38) than for MCS-12 (r = 0.12). Predictors for both HRQoL components were sex, FEV(1), use of oxygen therapy, and number of visits to emergency rooms and hospital admissions. Other independent predictors of PCS-12 were age, body mass index and educational level. CONCLUSION: Patients with stable COPD show a reduction of their HRQoL, even in mild stages of the disease. The factors determining the HRQoL include sex, FEV(1), use of oxygen therapy, and number of visits to emergency rooms and hospital admissions

The mitochondrial inhibitor oligomycin induces an inflammatory response in the rat knee joint

[Abstract] Background. Recent findings support a connection between mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of inflammatory pathways in articular cells. This study investigates in vivo in an acute model whether intra-articular administration of oligomycin, an inhibitor of mitochondrial function, induces an oxidative and inflammatory response in rat knee joints. Methods. Oligomycin was injected into the rat left knee joint on days 0, 2, and 5 before joint tissues were obtained on day 6. The right knee joint served as control. Results were evaluated by macroscopy and histopathology and by measuring cellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE, a marker of lipid peroxidation), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and CD68 (macrophages) and chemokine levels. The marker of mitochondrial mass COX-IV was also evaluated. Results. The macroscopic findings showed significantly greater swelling in oligomycin-injected knees than in control knees. Likewise, the histological score of synovial damage was also increased significantly. Immunohistochemical studies showed high expression of IL-8, coinciding with a marked infiltration of polymorphonuclears and CD68+ cells in the synovium. Mitochondrial mass was increased in the synovium of oligomycin-injected joints, as well as cellular and mitochondrial ROS production, and 4-HNE. Relatedly, expression of the oxidative stress-related transcription factor Nrf2 was also increased. As expected, no histological differences were observed in the cartilage; however, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 mRNA and protein expression were up-regulated in this tissue. Conclusions. Mitochondrial failure in the joint is able to reproduce the oxidative and inflammatory status observed in arthritic joints.Instituto de Salud Carlos III; 09/02340Instituto de Salud Carlos III, RD12/0009/0018, RIERGalicia. Consellería de Innovación, Industria e Comercio; PXIB916357PRInstituto de Salud Carlos III; PI12/02771Xunta de Galicia; PS09/56Galicia. Consellería de Economía e Industria; INCITE 09E1R916139ESGalicia. Consellería de Economía e Industria; IN845B2010/176Galicia. Consellería de Economía e Industria; 10CSA916035P

The mitochondrial inhibitor oligomycin induces an inflammatory response in the rat knee joint

[Abstract] Background. Recent findings support a connection between mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of inflammatory pathways in articular cells. This study investigates in vivo in an acute model whether intra-articular administration of oligomycin, an inhibitor of mitochondrial function, induces an oxidative and inflammatory response in rat knee joints. Methods. Oligomycin was injected into the rat left knee joint on days 0, 2, and 5 before joint tissues were obtained on day 6. The right knee joint served as control. Results were evaluated by macroscopy and histopathology and by measuring cellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE, a marker of lipid peroxidation), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and CD68 (macrophages) and chemokine levels. The marker of mitochondrial mass COX-IV was also evaluated. Results. The macroscopic findings showed significantly greater swelling in oligomycin-injected knees than in control knees. Likewise, the histological score of synovial damage was also increased significantly. Immunohistochemical studies showed high expression of IL-8, coinciding with a marked infiltration of polymorphonuclears and CD68+ cells in the synovium. Mitochondrial mass was increased in the synovium of oligomycin-injected joints, as well as cellular and mitochondrial ROS production, and 4-HNE. Relatedly, expression of the oxidative stress-related transcription factor Nrf2 was also increased. As expected, no histological differences were observed in the cartilage; however, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 mRNA and protein expression were up-regulated in this tissue. Conclusions. Mitochondrial failure in the joint is able to reproduce the oxidative and inflammatory status observed in arthritic joints.Instituto de Salud Carlos III; 09/02340Instituto de Salud Carlos III, RD12/0009/0018, RIERGalicia. Consellería de Innovación, Industria e Comercio; PXIB916357PRInstituto de Salud Carlos III; PI12/02771Xunta de Galicia; PS09/56Galicia. Consellería de Economía e Industria; INCITE 09E1R916139ESGalicia. Consellería de Economía e Industria; IN845B2010/176Galicia. Consellería de Economía e Industria; 10CSA916035P

Acciones estratégicas en igualdad de género en Norte de África y Oriente Medio : avances legislativos en violencia contra las mujeres y derecho de familia

Bibliografía: p. 43-45Resumen: La Universidad Complutense de Madrid dispone de un sólidocompromiso con la promoción de la igualdad de género en nuestra sociedad y también,desde una vocación de solidaridad internacional, en otros contextos y países. La presente publicación recoge el resultado de un rico proceso de intercambio entre parlamentarias, magistradas y juristas árabes y españolas que tuvo lugar entre octubre y diciembre de 2017, en el marco de la colaboración entre la Universidad Complutense de Madrid y la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo. Su contenido se centra en el análisis y las propuestas de acción estratégica en el ámbito legislativo relativo a la violencia de género, el derecho de familia y la Sharia. El Centro Superior de Estudios de Gestión ha querido contribuir así al avance en la igualdad de género en una región heterogénea en la que las mujeres han hecho grandes progresos en su lucha por la consecución de sus derechos, en la que hay países pioneros en el desarrollo de modificaciones legislativas igualitarias, pero donde también se mantienen importantes discriminaciones por razón de sexo. Nuestro deseo es que esta publicación pueda resultar de utilidad en la toma de decisiones para la cooperación con el Mundo Árabe en igualdad de género y, por ende, para el avance de las mujeres en toda su diversidad.Esta publicación cuenta con el apoyo financiero de la Cooperación Española a través de la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internaciona