Serologic control against hepatitis B virus among dental students of the University of Granada, Spain

Background: To evaluate the immunological situation against hepatitis B virus (HBV) of a cohort of dentistry students, to analyze the behavior of the levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) after the administration of one or three vaccine doses, and to determine the influence of age and sex on the immune response. Material and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included students attending the School of Dentistry of the institution where the study was performed from 2005 to 2012 who had completed the public health vaccination calendar for HBV at the age of 12-13. Data on age, sex, basal anti-HBs levels, post-vaccination anti-HBs results and final anti-HBs levels were collected. Comparisons of the basal and final levels, as well as associations regarding age and sex, were performed by means of the Student t and Chi-square tests. Results: Of the 359 students, 97 (27.02%) had basal antibody concentrations <10 mIU/ml, whereas in 262 the levels of anti-HBs were ≥10 mIU/ml (72.98%). Of the 288 participating students who completed the School ́s protocol for immunization, 287 (99.65%) attained a level of protection ≥10 mIU/ml. Globally, there were statistically significant differences between the basal antibody levels and those achieved after administration of the vaccine and booster, but no association with age or sex was observed. Conclusions: About 70% of dental students vaccinated as preadolescents had serologic evidence of protection against HBV. Administering a booster is associated with the presence of an excellent immune memory. There is clearly a need to reinforce control of the antibody levels in groups at risk, such as Dentistry student

Gold-Based Nanoparticles on Amino-Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Supports as Nanozymes for Glucose Oxidation

The transformation of glucose represents a topic of great interest at different levels. In the first place, glucose is currently conceived as a green feedstock for the sustainable production of chemicals. Secondly, the depletion of glucose at the cellular level is currently envisioned as a promising strategy to treat and alter the erratic metabolism of tumoral cells. The use of natural enzymes offers multiple advantages in terms of specificity towards the glucose substrate but may lack sufficient robustness and recyclability beyond the optimal operating conditions of these natural systems. In the present work, we have evaluated the potential use of an inorganic based nanohybrid containing gold nanoparticles supported onto ordered mesoporous supports. We have performed different assays that corroborate the enzyme-mimicking response of these inorganic surrogates towards the selective conversion of glucose into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, we conclude that these enzyme-like mimicking surrogates can operate at different pH ranges and under mild reaction conditions, can be recycled multiple times and maintain excellent catalytic response in comparison with other gold-based catalysts

Light-Emitting Carbon Nanodots. Synthesis and Development of Novel Applications

Fluorescent Carbon Nanodots, “CNDs”, are a new type of carbon nanomaterials that have emerged recently, and have attracted intense interest as a potential alternative to classical semiconductor Quantum Dots. CNDs possess high biocompatibility, easy and low-cost synthesis, good colloidal stability and appealing optical properties. CNDs also hold a huge potential as novel and versatile luminescent nanomaterials for a wide range of applications such as bioimaging, drug delivery, chemical sensing, photocatalysis, and as sensitizers for photovoltaic solar cells. This Thesis deals first with the development of different strategies to produce non-toxic, inexpensive carbon nanoparticles with good and tunable emission properties spanning an activation window from the ultraviolet (UV) to the near infrared (NIR). On the other hand, the prepared CNDs have been applied in different fields: theranostics, sensing and catalysis. The aims of this PhD Thesis have been: (i) to synthesize fluorescent CNDs from abundant and inexpensive precursors by improving state-of-the-art methods and by the development of novel synthesis strategies; (ii) to understand and optimize the structural and optical properties of the as-synthesized CNDs; and (iii) to use the CNDs as fluorescent Biomarkers and Photodynamic Therapy agents, as luminescent Nanosensors and as photosensitisers in Catalytic applications. After an introductory section, the thesis is structured in three blocks:I. Synthesis of CNDs, evaluation of different synthesis methods: hydrothermal treatment, pyrolysis of organic compounds and flash-thermal pyrolysis of carbon precursors contained in the channels of inorganic mesoporous templates.II. Characterization of CNDs: evaluation of their structural and optical properties with special attention to the role of functional groups generated in the CNDs and the chemical composition of the different precursors to induce an enhanced response in the visible-NIR range.III. Applications of CNDs: evaluation of their role as biomarkers, theranostic agents, and ion sensors, especially in the NIR range. Evaluation as sensitizers/light harvesters able to expand the response of other photocatalysts or to mimic the enzymatic activity of peroxidase.Finally, a conclusion section contains the main conclusions reached in this work.<br /

Influence of Regulatory Fit Theory on Persuasion from Google Ads: An Eye Tracking Study

Search engine marketing accounts for a high percentage of investment in platforms such as Google. Several studies have confirmed that users have a negative bias towards advertisements, so we apply social psychology theories via the elaboration probability model in this analysis. In this research, we modify the types of ads shown on Google’s results pages using the regulatory focus and fit and message framing theory to study attentional and behavioral responses with eye-tracking technology and cognitive responses from self-report measures. The results confirm a negative bias towards ads and a preference for organic results. Although promotion-framed ads seem to be more persuasive than neutral and prevention-framed ads, it was not possible to prove compliance with regulatory fit in this field through survey-based studies.Spanish National R+D+I Research Program - NeuroTourism project (grant no. ECO2017-88458-R)Andalusian R+D+I Research Program - “Research in NeuroSOCOM” project (grant no. B-SEJ-209-UGR18

Psychological distress in health sciences college students and its relationship with academic engagement

Objective: To determine the prevalence of psychological distress and its relationship with academic engagement (absorption, dedication and vigor), sex and degree among students from four public universities. Method: A non-experimental,comparative correlational, quantitative investigation without intervention. Study population: 1840 nursing and physical therapy students. The data collection tool used was a questionnaire. Results: A 32.2% prevalence of psychological distress was found in the subjects; a correlation between vigor and psychological distress was found for all of the subjects and also for women. High absorption and dedication scores and low psychological distress scores predicted higher vigor scores. Conclusion: The risk of psychological distress is high, especially for women. Women seem to have a higher level of psychological distress than men. Vigor, energy and mental resilience positively influence psychological distress and can be a vehicle for better results during the learning and studying process.





Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia del malestar psicológico y su relación con el engagement académico (absorción, dedicación y vigor) y con variables sexo y titulación, de los estudiantes de cuatro universidades públicas. Método: Estudio comparativo correlacional, investigación cuantitativa sin intervención, no experimental. Población 1840 estudiantes de Enfermería y Fisioterapia. La herramienta de recogida de datos fue el cuestionario. Resultados: Prevalencia de malestar psicológico en el 32.2% de los sujetos; se hallaron correlaciones entre vigor y malestar psicológico para el conjunto de sujetos y para el grupo de las mujeres. Las puntuaciones altas en absorción y dedicación y bajas en malestar psicológico, predicen valoraciones más altas en vigor. Conclusión: El riesgo de malestar psicológico es alto, especialmente para las mujeres. Éstas se perciben con mayor malestar psicológico que los hombres. El vigor, energía y resistencia con los estudios, influye positivamente sobre el malestar psicológico y puede ser un vehículo para unos mejores resultados del aprendizaje.
Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência do mal-estar psicológico e a sua relação com o engagement acadêmico (absorção, dedicação e vigor) e as variáveis ​​sexo e formação profissional em estudantes de quatro universidades públicas. Método: Investigação quantitativa sem intervenção, estudo não experimental e correlacional comparativo. A amostra foi constituída por 1.840 alunos de Enfermagem e Fisioterapia e o instrumento de coleta de dados foi o questionário. Resultados: A prevalência do mal-estar psicológico foi encontrada em 32,2% dos indivíduos; foram encontradas correlações entre vigor e mal-estar psicológico para o conjunto dos sujeitos, principalmente para o grupo das mulheres. A existência de escores elevados para dedicação e absorção, e baixos para mal-estar psicológico é preditora de pontuações mais elevadas em vigor. Conclusão: O risco de mal-estar psicológico é elevado, especialmente nas mulheres. Estas se percebem com maior mal-estar psicológico que os homens. O vigor, a energia e a resistência, aplicados na relação com os estudos influenciam positivamente o mal-estar psicológico e podem ser um veículo para melhores resultados de aprendizagem
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Psychological distress in health sciences college students and its relationship with academic engagement

P. 715-722Objective: To determine the prevalence of psychological distress and its relationship with academic engagement (absorption, dedication and vigor), sex and degree among students from four public universities. Method: A non-experimental, comparative correlational, quantitative investigation without intervention. Study population: 1840 nursing and physical therapy students. The data collection tool used was a questionnaire. Results: A 32.2% prevalence of psychological distress was found in the subjects; a correlation between vigor and psychological distress was found for all of the subjects and also for women. High absorption and dedication scores and low psychological distress scores predicted higher vigor scores. Conclusion: The risk of psychological distress is high, especially for women. Women seem to have a higher level of psychological distress than men. Vigor, energy and mental resilience positively influence psychological distress and can be a vehicle for better results during the learning and studying process.S

Seroprevalence of Leishmania infection among asymptomatic renal transplant recipients from southern Spain

Support: E.K. Elmahallawy has a PhD scholarship (number 736) from Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program (ELEMENT Action 1 First call).Background: The aim of this article is to assess the seroprevalence of Leishmania infection among asymptomatic renal transplant recipients in a population in the south of Spain. Methods: Serum samples were screened for immunoglobulin-G antibodies against Leishmania with an indirect fluorescent antibody test. Results: Of 625 examined serum samples, 30 (4.8%) samples were positive for Leishmania antibodies. Thirteen samples showed titers of 1:80, 15 samples showed titers of 1:160, and 2 samples showed titers of 1:320. None of the patients with positive serology to Leishmania showed signs or symptoms compatible with leishmaniasis. Conclusion: The prevalence of Leishmania infection found among asymptomatic renal transplant patients reinforces the need for attention in evaluation of these patients in endemic areas.Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program (ELEMENT Action 1 First call

A multicentre study investigating parameters which influence direct bacterial identification from urine

Rapid diagnosis is one of the best ways to improve patient management and prognosis as well as to combat the development of bacterial resistance. The aim of this study was to study parameters that impact the achievement of reliable identification using a combination of flow cytometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF-MS).The study was carried out in nine hospitals in Spain and included 1,050 urine samples with bacterial counts of 5x106 bacteria/ml. MALDI-ToF-MS-based identification was performed according to a previously described protocol. Valid identification by direct MALDI-ToF-MS was obtained in 72.8% of samples, in 80.3% of samples found to be positive by culture, 32.2% of contaminated samples, and 19.7% of negative samples. Among the positives samples with a valid identification the concordance at the species level was 97.2%. The parameters related to success of direct identification were: high bacterial count, the presence of Escherichia coli as a pathogen and rod-bacteria morphology provided by flow cytometry. The parameters related to failure were a high epithelial cell (EC) count, a high white blood cell (WBC) count and urine samples obtained from in-patients. In summary, this multicentre study confirms previously published data on the usefulness and accuracy of direct MALDI-ToF-MS-based identification of bacteria from urine samples. It seems important to evaluate not only the bacterial count, but also other parameters, such as EC and WBC counts, bacterial species and morphology, and the health care setting, to decide whether the sample is suitable for direct identification

Tuberculous prosthetic knee joint infection: a case report and literature review

Introducción. La infección protésica tardía se presenta a partir del segundo mes tras la cirugía en el contexto de una di seminación hematógena desde otro foco. La infección protésica por micobacterias es una complicación rara cuyo manejo clínico no está estandarizado. Caso. Paciente de 77 años sin antecedentes personales de interés salvo diabetes y un recambio protésico de rodilla derecha por gonartrosis tres años antes. Acude a urgencias del hospital por un cuadro de unos 6 meses de evolución de intenso dolor en rodilla derecha de tipo mecánico con signos inflamatorios pero sin fiebre asociada. A los 5 días de su reingreso y presentando empeoramiento clínico se informa del crecimiento de Mycobac terium tuberculosis en la primera muestra de aspirado de rodilla y se instaura tratamiento antituberculoso durante 9 meses. Las imágenes de resonancia magnética nuclear confirmaron también el diagnóstico de espondilitis tuberculosa en el contexto clínico de la paciente. Tras la intervención quirúrgica se seguía aislando en el cultivo de las muestras intraoperatorias M. tuberculosis y por ello la paciente recibió de nuevo otra tanda de 9 meses con antituberculosos. La evolución al año de seguimiento fue acep table, aunque unos meses después la paciente falleció por causas cardiovasculares. En la revisión bibliográfica se encontraron 15 publicaciones con un total de 17 casos clínicos en los últimos 25 años de infección protésica por M. tuberculosis. Conclusión. La artritis protésica tuberculosa, aunque es una presentación infrecuente, debe tenerse presente, especialmente en aquellos pacientes con condiciones predisponentes y con an tecedentes de infección tuberculosa.Objective: Prosthetic late infection occurs in the second month after surgery in the context of haematogenous spread from another source. Prosthetic mycobacterial infection is a rare complication whose clinical management is not standardized. Case: Patient of 77 years with no personal history except for diabetes and a prosthetic replacement of right knee with osteoarthritis three years ago. Patient goes to hospital emergency box for 6 months pain in the right knee with mechanical inflammatory signs but no fever associated. After their return within 5 days and clinical worsening is reporting growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in knee aspirate and antitubercular treatment is established for 9 months. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging studies also confirmed the diagnosis of tuberculosis spondylitis in the clinical context of the patients. After surgery, M. tuberculosis was again isolated from intraoperative samples and therefore the patient received another batch of treatment for 9 months. After a year of monitoring, the development was acceptable but few months later, the patient died for cardiovascular causes. In the literature review, 15 publications with a total of 17 clinical cases of prosthetic infection by M. tuberculosis were found from 1980 to 2014. Conclusions: Prosthetic tuberculous arthritis, although it is a rare presentation, it should be noted, especially in patients with predisposing conditions with a history of tuberculosis infection

Competences assessment tool for development of a life support megacode. Assessment by students of nursing

[ES] Este trabajo tiene como objetivo la valoración de los estudiantes de una herramienta para evaluar, durante la realización de un megacode a 4 estudiantes simultáneamente, en las competencias de “Reconocer las situaciones de riesgo vital y saber ejecutar maniobras de soporte vital básico y avanzado” y “Promover el trabajo en equipo”, ambas, incluidas en la asignatura de Cuidados Especiales de la titulación de Grado en Enfermería. La rúbrica propuesta está compuesta por dos matrices, una para competencia, y consta de varios indicadores de logro/dominio para cada uno de los roles a adoptar por los estudiantes durante el desarrollo del megacode. Se valora la objetividad, especificidad y claridad de cada uno de los indicadores de dominio mediante la herramienta informática de google.docs. Tras el análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo de las valoraciones atribuidas por los estudiantes participantes podemos concluir que la herramienta propuesta por el grupo de expertos es valorada muy satisfactoriamente por los estudiantes, en todos y cada uno de los indicadores; siendo valorada por más del 90% de los estudiantes como “muy objetivo, claro y especifico” o “totalmente objetivo, claro y especifico”.[EN] This paper aims at assessing students a tool to evaluate, during the performance of a megacode to 4 students simultaneously in the roles of "Recognize life-threatening situations and apply basic and advanced life support" and "perfor teamwork” both competencies included in the subject of Special Care in Nursing Degree. The tool proposal, has been composed for two matrices, one for competition, and consists of several indicators of domain for each of the roles to be taken by students during the development of megacode. The assessment focuses on the defendant on criteria of objectivity, specificity and clarity, each of the indicators by tool google.docs. We had done a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the ratings attributed by the participating students. The tool proposed by the group of experts is valued very successfully by students in all and each of the indicators. They are valued by more than 90% of the students as "very objective, clear and specific" or "totally objective, clear and specific.