Characterization of EEG patterns in brain-injured subjects and controls after a Snoezelen® intervention

Producción CientíficaBackground and objective. The aim of this study was to assess the changes induced in electroencephalographic (EEG) activity by a Snoezelen® intervention on individuals with brain-injury and control subjects. Methods: EEG activity was recorded preceding and following a Snoezelen® session in 18 people with cerebral palsy (CP), 18 subjects who have sustained traumatic brain-injury (TBI) and 18 controls. EEG data were analyzed by means of spectral and nonlinear measures: median frequency (MF), individual alpha frequency (IAF), sample entropy (SampEn) and Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZC). Results: Our results showed decreased values for MF, IAF, SampEn and LZC as a consequence of the therapy. The main changes between pre-stimulation and post-stimulation conditions were found in occipital and parietal brain areas. Additionally, these changes are more widespread in controls than in brain-injured subjects, which can be due to cognitive deficits in TBI and CP groups. Conclusions: Our findings support the notion that Snoezelen® therapy affects central nervous system, inducing a slowing of oscillatory activity, as well as a decrease of EEG complexity and irregularity. These alterations seem to be related with higher levels of relaxation of the participants.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (TEC2014-53196-R)Junta de Castilla y León (VA059U13 y BIO/VA08/15

LAB-SUITE

TRATA SOBRE LA ADMINISTRACION DE LOS RECURSOS COMPUTACIONALES EN UN LABORATORIO, ESPECIALMENTE CUANDO SE TIENE UN NUMERO LIMITADO DE COMPUTADORAS Y UN GRAN NUMERO DE ESTUDIANTES Y EL REPARTO JUSTO DE LOS RECURSOS COMPUTACIONALES SE TRANSFORMA EN UN PROBLEMA DE PRIORIDAD. LAB-SUITE, ES UN SISTEMA QUE PERMITE LA APLICACION DE POLITICAS DE ADMINISTRACION DE RECURSOS INFORMATICOS DE MANERA AUTOMATIZADA, ESTE PROYECTO SE COMPONE DE TRES SISTEMAS INDEPENDIENTES: LAB-FIREWALL: SISTEMA DE CONTROL DE ACCESO A INFORMACION DE INTERNET. LAB-MANAGER: SISTEMA DE ADMINISTRACION DE LAS COMPUTADORAS DEL LABORATORIO, ES UN SISTEMA CLIENTE-SERVIDOR, QUE OPERA EN RED Y UTILIZA LA FAMILIA DE PROTOCOLOS TCP/IP. LAB-IMAGE: SISTEMA DE PUBLICACION DE ANUNCIOS. TANTO EL CLIENTE COMO LOS SERVIDORES SE EJECUTAN SOBRE EL SISTEMA OPERATIVO WINDOWS 95, Y EN EL CASO DE LOS SERVIDORES SE REQUIERE DE UN COMPUTADOR DE MINIMAS CARACTERISTICAS

Effects of serelaxin in patients with acute heart failure

Background: Serelaxin is a recombinant form of human relaxin-2, a vasodilator hormone that contributes to cardiovascular and renal adaptations during pregnancy. Previous studies have suggested that treatment with serelaxin may result in relief of symptoms and in better outcomes in patients with acute heart failure. Methods: In this multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, event-driven trial, we enrolled patients who were hospitalized for acute heart failure and had dyspnea, vascular congestion on chest radiography, increased plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides, mild-to-moderate renal insufficiency, and a systolic blood pressure of at least 125 mm Hg, and we randomly assigned them within 16 hours after presentation to receive either a 48-hour intravenous infusion of serelaxin (30 μg per kilogram of body weight per day) or placebo, in addition to standard care. The two primary end points were death from cardiovascular causes at 180 days and worsening heart failure at 5 days. Results: A total of 6545 patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. At day 180, death from cardiovascular causes had occurred in 285 of the 3274 patients (8.7%) in the serelaxin group and in 290 of the 3271 patients (8.9%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83 to 1.15; P=0.77). At day 5, worsening heart failure had occurred in 227 patients (6.9%) in the serelaxin group and in 252 (7.7%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.75 to 1.07; P=0.19). There were no significant differences between the groups in the incidence of death from any cause at 180 days, the incidence of death from cardiovascular causes or rehospitalization for heart failure or renal failure at 180 days, or the length of the index hospital stay. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups. Conclusions: In this trial involving patients who were hospitalized for acute heart failure, an infusion of serelaxin did not result in a lower incidence of death from cardiovascular causes at 180 days or worsening heart failure at 5 days than placebo. (Funded by Novartis Pharma; RELAX-AHF-2 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01870778. opens in new tab.

Curs 0: preparació per als estudis a l’EEBE

Aquest article presenta el desenvolupament i primers resultats d'ús d'un conjunt de cursos virtuals que pretenen proporcionar uns coneixements inicials bàsics de Matemàtiques, Física i !ímica als estudiants que accedeixen a estudis de grau a l'Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE). Els cursos han estat desenvolupats sobre la plataforma Atenea (Moodle). El seu nucli el constitueixen un conjunt de materials per a autoaprenentatge que inclouen documents escrits, vídeos i tests d'autoavaluació. Els documents escrits i els vídeos corresponen tant a explicacions de teoria com a la resolució detallada d'exercicis. En el marc d'una prova pilot, els cursos, de seguiment voluntari durant el període transcorregut entre la matricula (mitjans de juliol) i l'inici de les classes (mitjans de setembre), van ser publicitats a tots els estudiants de nou accés del curs 2021-2022. Encara que la participació va ser més limitada del que s'esperava (únicament el 22% dels estudiants de nou accés es van inscriure), cal destacar que els estudiants que sí que van seguir els cursos van expressar majoritàriament una bona valoració dels mateixos (al respondre un qüestionari de satisfacció). Del desenvolupament dels cursos i de la realització de la prova pilot s'han obtingut unes quantes conclusions que també queden reflectides al final de l'article

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation

Lab-suite

Trata sobre la administración de los recursos computacionales en un laboratorio, especialmente cuando se tiene un número limitado de computadoras y un gran número de estudiantes y el reparto justo de los recursos computacionales se transforma en un problema de prioridad. Lab-Suite, es un sistema que permite la aplicación de politicas de administración de recursos informáticos de manera automatizada, este proyecto se compone de tres sistemas independientes: Lab-Firewall: sistema de control de acceso a información de internet. Lab-Manager: sistema de administración de las computadoras del laboratorio, es un sistema cliente-servidor, que opera en red y utiliza la familia de protocolos TCP/IP. Lab-Image: sistema de publicacion de anuncios. Tanto el cliente como los servidores se ejecutan sobre el sistema operativo Windows 95, y en el caso de los servidores se requiere de un computador de mínimas características.GuayaquilIngeniero en Computació

Valor del volumen de calcio coronario en el diagnóstico de la cardiopatía isquémica

 Introducción. La presencia de calcio en las arterias coronarias se corresponde con aterosclerosis.Objetivo. Determinar el valor del volumen total de calcio coronario en el diagnóstico de la cardiopatía isquémica. Método. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal en el Instituto de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular de Cuba, de enero a julio 2010, para determinar la efectividad del volumen de calcio coronario por el método de Callister y el puntaje de calcio mediante el score de Agatston, ambos cuantificados a través de la tomografía de 64 cortes, para el diagnóstico de las estenosis coronarias significativas. Se estudiaron consecutivamente 158 pacientes programados para coronariografía invasiva. Se determinaron los índices de eficiencia diagnóstica para diferentes puntos de corte de volumen de calcio coronario para predecir la estenosis.Resultados. El 98 % de los pacientes y arterias con volumen de calcio 0 mm3 no tuvieron estenosis coronaria significativa, sin embargo, ésta estaba presente en el 100 % de los pacientes en los que el volumen fue mayor que 400 mm3 (p < 0,0001). Para punto de corte 0 mm3 el volumen obtuvo altos valores de sensibilidad (99%), y para punto de corte 400 mm3 alta especificidad y valor predictivo positivo (ambos 100%) para diagnosticar estenosis coronaria significativa. Los puntos de cortes óptimos del volumen de calcio y score de Agaston por paciente para predecir la oclusión arterial fueron 51 mm3 y 40 UA respectivamente con p=0,6. Conclusión: El volumen de calcio coronario, es un método tan efectivo como score creado por Agatston para predecir estenosis coronaria significativa.AbstractIntroduction. The presence of calcium in coronary arteries is related to atherosclerosis.Objective. To determine the value of coronary calcium total volume in the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease.Method. A descriptive transversal study was performed at the Cuban Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, from January to July 2010, to determine the effectiveness of both the coronary calcium volume using Callister's method and the score of Agatston, the two being assessed through CT systems with up to 64 rows, in the diagnosis of significant coronary stenosis. One hundred and fifty-eight patients scheduled for invasive coronary angiography were studied consecutively. Se determinaron los índices de eficiencia diagnóstica para diferentes puntos de corte de volumen de calcio coronario para predecir la estenosis.Results. The 98 % of patients and arteries with a calcium volume of 0 mm3 did not have a significant coronary stenosis, nevertheless, this condition was present in 100 % of patients with a calcium volume higher than 400 mm3 (p < 0,0001). Para punto de corte 0 mm3 el volumen obtuvo altos valores de sensibilidad (99%), y para punto de corte 400 mm3 alta especificidad y valor predictivo positivo (ambos 100%) para diagnosticar estenosis coronaria significativa. Los puntos de cortes óptimos del volumen de calcio y score de Agaston por paciente para predecir la oclusión arterial fueron 51 mm3 y 40 UA respectivamente con p=0,6.Conclusion. The coronary calcium volume is a method as effective as the score created by Agatston to predict significant coronary stenosis.Key words. Computed tomography; Invasive coronary angiography; Calcium volume; Significant coronary stenosis.   

y Effects of Serelaxin in Patients with Acute Heart Failure

BackgroundSerelaxin is a recombinant form of human relaxin-2, a vasodilator hormone that contributes to cardiovascular and renal adaptations during pregnancy. Previous studies have suggested that treatment with serelaxin may result in relief of symptoms and in better outcomes in patients with acute heart failure.MethodsIn this multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, event-driven trial, we enrolled patients who were hospitalized for acute heart failure and had dyspnea, vascular congestion on chest radiography, increased plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides, mild-to-moderate renal insufficiency, and a systolic blood pressure of at least 125 mm Hg, and we randomly assigned them within 16 hours after presentation to receive either a 48-hour intravenous infusion of serelaxin (30 mu g per kilogram of body weight per day) or placebo, in addition to standard care. The two primary end points were death from cardiovascular causes at 180 days and worsening heart failure at 5 days.ResultsA total of 6545 patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. At day 180, death from cardiovascular causes had occurred in 285 of the 3274 patients (8.7%) in the serelaxin group and in 290 of the 3271 patients (8.9%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83 to 1.15; P=0.77). At day 5, worsening heart failure had occurred in 227 patients (6.9%) in the serelaxin group and in 252 (7.7%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.75 to 1.07; P=0.19). There were no significant differences between the groups in the incidence of death from any cause at 180 days, the incidence of death from cardiovascular causes or rehospitalization for heart failure or renal failure at 180 days, or the length of the index hospital stay. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups.ConclusionsIn this trial involving patients who were hospitalized for acute heart failure, an infusion of serelaxin did not result in a lower incidence of death from cardiovascular causes at 180 days or worsening heart failure at 5 days than placebo. (Funded by Novartis Pharma; RELAX-AHF-2 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01870778.)In a randomized trial, 6545 patients with acute heart failure were assigned to either serelaxin or placebo in addition to standard care. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence of death from cardiovascular causes at 180 days or worsening heart failure at 5 days

I Jornadas de transferencia Investigación y Sociedad

Actas de congresoEn estas Jornadas se pone el acento en los aportes de las investigaciones que se realizan en la FAUD tanto a la docencia de grado y posgrado como a la sociedad en su conjunto. Las universidades nacionales son las responsables de avizorar la necesidad creciente de buscar nuevos vínculos con impacto social, diferenciados de las nrmas del mercado, de tal manera que las reposiciones en relación a sus labores prioritarias. La búsqueda de soluciones concretas por las instituciones de estudios superiores a las problemáticas urgentes de todos los sectores sociales se convierte en la clave para la formulación de alternativas de respuesta. La democratización del conocimiento a través de la divulgación y valoración de las actividades científicas, tecnológicas y artísticas de la Universidad traslada a la sociedad y a su dirigencia la materialización, la ideología y el proyecto de país que se construye. Cada trabajo recogido en esta obra nos sirve para contextualizar el quehacer en las aulas de grado y posgrado, los cursos y conferencias de actualización, profundización y perfeccionamiento, y la transferencia al medio. Los textos están marcados por la heterogeneidad de los temas materia de investigación de la Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño