Revisión teórica de la eficacia de la terapia dialéctico-conductual aplicada a los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria

OBJETIVOS: La elevada comorbilidad de los Trastornos Límite de la Personalidad (TLP) con los Trastornos de Alimentación (TA) apoya una aproximación transdiagnóstica en el abordaje terapéutico de los mismos (Faiburn, Cooper & Shafran, 2003). Por otra parte, la Terapia Dialéctico Conductual (TDC) es el único enfoque terapéutico que ha mostrado una eficacia validada para mejorar los déficits de regulación emocional (RE) que caracterizan a los TLP, siendo que dichos déficits juegan también un papel crítico en el desarrollo y mantenimiento de los síntomas en pacientes con TA. Así, el objetivo de este trabajo ha sido realizar una revisión sistemática sobre la eficacia demostrada de TDC en el tratamiento de los TA. MÉTODO: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica mediante la introducción en bases de datos (WOS, Scopus, PsycINFO y Pubmed) de palabras-clave relacionadas con la materia, en castellano e inglés, sin restricción de fechas. Sólo se incluyeron en el trabajo los artículos de revistas con un índice de impacto significativo en Journal Citation Reports (JCR) e IN-RECS. RESULTADOS: Los resultados muestran una clara evidencia empírica de eficacia de TDC en el tratamiento de los TA con déficits en RE. Así, sus favorables resultados, en comparación con la limitada eficacia de otros procedimientos psicoterapéuticos para los TA, hacen de TDC el tratamiento psicológico de elección. CONCLUSIONES: Esta revisión muestra que TDC ofrece grandes beneficios no solo en TLP sino también en TA, destacando la eficacia de la validación del terapeuta sobre las experiencias del cliente para conseguir mejorar la RA. Estos datos apoyan, a su vez, el papel de la RA como el principal proceso que comparten TLP y ciertos tipos de TA, lo que confirma la bondad del enfoque transdiagnóstico en su tratamiento.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Biomarcadores en la enfermedad de Alzheimer

La enfermedad de Alzheimer se está convirtiendo en la enfermedad de larga duración de mayor incidencia a nivel mundial en la población. La patogénesis se conoce bien pero pocos son los estudios realizados acerca del posible diagnóstico precoz de la misma. Algunos de estos estudios están relacionados con diversos tipos de moléculas implicadas en el desarrollo de la enfermedad, utilizándose como biomarcadores de ésta. En este trabajo se describen los principales biomarcadores bioquímicos de la enfermedad de Alzheimer, localizados en plasma y líquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR), y su utilidad diagnostica en la enfermedad

Thermorresponsive magnetic nanoparticles as target drug delivery for cancer treatment

In this research, temperature sensitive microgels with magnetic core for controlled release of 5-fluoruracil was synthesized. Magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4) were prepared by coprecipitation method and the surface was functionalized by acrylic acid. Polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) were grown by free radical polymerization in presence of cross-liker and initiator. The size of the polymer was manipulated by changing the mole percent of the crosslinker and evaluated for their morphology (TEM), particle size, zeta potential, loading efficiency, drug content and drug release. Furthermore, microgels were tagged with FITC, a fluorochrome which could be applied for cell imaging. Cytotoxicity studies revealed that the microgels were not toxic. These complex nanoparticles (Fe3O4/pNIPAM/FITC/5-Fu) appear to be a great promise to be used in controlled drug delivery and tumor targeting.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Synthesis of New Analogues of the Bengamides to encapsulate in magnetic nanoparticles

The development and identification of new antitumoral has become a research area of great interest and maximum priority due to secondary effects of current antitumoral and the appearance of tumours resistant to these agents. Marine sponges corresponding to the Jaspidae family have proved to be a prolific source of bioactive natural products. Among these, the Bengamides have showed an important biological profile, including antitumor, antibiotic and anthelmintic properties. Due to the interest of theses natural products, we describe a study directed towards the total synthesis of this class of compounds. Then we encapsulate Bengamides in temperature sensitive microgels with a magnetic core. Magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O 4) were prepared by coprecipitation method and the surface was functionalized by acrylic acid. Polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) were grown by free radical polymerization in presence of cross-liker and initiator.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Storytelling and teamwork in the bilingual classroom at university: Impressions and satisfaction from pre-service teachers in the Kamishibai project

The storytelling technique Kamishibai has shown multiple advantages in educational settings. However, there is a lack of studies that deepen on its implementation in teacher training. A total of 114 pre-service teachers (mean age = 20.76 years), enrolled in the Degree of Primary Education at the University of Málaga, participated in a project where they had to design and perform a paper-based theatre for primary-education pupils as a target audience. A semi-structured online survey was administered to determine pre-service teachers’ satisfaction and perceptions towards their Kamishibai and the work in teams. The results revealed that most of the pre-service teachers were satisfied with the team experience. Besides, some benefits were listed: fostering creativity, at university; catching pupils’ attention, fostering creativity and promoting reading, in primary-school context. The Kamishibai implementation goes beyond promoting reading and other linguistic skills in both mother tongue and foreign language; it may be considered a multidisciplinary educative resource to strengthen further cross-curricular competences.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBUA

Diagnosis of alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency not just in severe COPD

Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a well known genetic risk factor for pulmonary disease and is the most frequent hereditary disease diagnosed in adults. Despite being one of the most common hereditary diseases, AATD remains under-diagnosed because of its variable clinical presentation and the poor knowledge of this disease by physicians. With the aim of identifying clinical differences that could influence early diagnosis, we compared two groups of six AATD Pi*ZZ patients with different lung function severity and clinical expression at diagnosis. On comparing the two groups, we observed a younger mean age at diagnosis and more exacerbations in the severe group, but the percentage of smokers did not statistically differ between the two groups. Our results suggest that AATD continues being a disease suspected on younger patients with a worse lung function. In addition these findings confirm the clinical variability of the disease and that there are still unknown factors that contribute to its development. Therefore, early diagnosis may modify the prognosis of this disease

The Transcription Factor NFAT5 Is Required for Cyclin Expression and Cell Cycle Progression in Cells Exposed to Hypertonic Stress

Background: Hypertonicity can perturb cellular functions, induce DNA damage-like responses and inhibit proliferation. The transcription factor NFAT5 induces osmoprotective gene products that allow cells to adapt to sustained hypertonic conditions. Although it is known that NFAT5-deficient lymphocytes and renal medullary cells have reduced proliferative capacity and viability under hypertonic stress, less is understood about the contribution of this factor to DNA damage responses and cell cycle regulation. Methodology/Principal Findings: We have generated conditional knockout mice to obtain NFAT5−/− T lymphocytes, which we used as a model of proliferating cells to study NFAT5-dependent responses. We show that hypertonicity triggered an early, NFAT5-independent, genotoxic stress-like response with induction of p53, p21 and GADD45, downregulation of cyclins, and cell cycle arrest. This was followed by an NFAT5-dependent adaptive phase in wild-type cells, which induced an osmoprotective gene expression program, downregulated stress markers, resumed cyclin expression and proliferation, and displayed enhanced NFAT5 transcriptional activity in S and G2/M. In contrast, NFAT5−/− cells failed to induce osmoprotective genes and exhibited poorer viability. Although surviving NFAT5−/− cells downregulated genotoxic stress markers, they underwent cell cycle arrest in G1/S and G2/M, which was associated with reduced expression of cyclins E1, A2 and B1. We also show that pathologic hypertonicity levels, as occurring in plasma of patients and animal models of osmoregulatory disorders, inhibited the induction of cyclins and aurora B kinase in response to T cell receptor stimulation in fresh NFAT5−/− lymphocytes. Conclusions/Significance: We conclude that NFAT5 facilitates cell proliferation under hypertonic conditions by inducing an osmoadaptive response that enables cells to express fundamental regulators needed for cell cycle progression.Molecular and Cellular Biolog

Genetic diagnosis of α1-antitrypsin deficiency using DNA from buccal swab and serum samples

Background: α1-Antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is associated with a high risk of developing lung and liver disease. Despite being one of the most common hereditary disorders worldwide, AATD remains under-diagnosed and prolonged delays in diagnosis are usual. The aim of this study was to validate the use of buccal swab samples and serum circulating DNA for the complete laboratory study of AATD. Methods: Sixteen buccal swab samples from previously characterized AATD patients were analyzed using an allele-specific genotyping assay and sequencing method. In addition, 19 patients were characterized by quantification, phenotyping and genotyping using only serum samples. Results: the 16 buccal swab samples were correctly characterized by genotyping. Definitive results were obtained in the 19 serum samples analyzed by quantification, phenotyping and genotyping, thereby performing the complete AATD diagnostic algorithm. Conclusions: Buccal swab samples may be useful to expand AATD screening programs and family studies. Genotyping using DNA from serum samples permits the application of the complete diagnostic algorithm without delay. These two methods will be useful for obtaining more in depth knowledge of the real prevalence of patients with AATD

Application of a diagnostic algorithm for the rare deficient variant Mmalton of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency: a new approach

Background and objectives: alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is associated with a high risk for the development of early-onset emphysema and liver disease. A large majority of subjects with severe AATD carry the ZZ genotype, which can be easily detected. Another rare pathologic variant, the Mmalton allele, causes a deficiency similar to that of the Z variant, but it is not easily recognizable and its detection seems to be underestimated. Therefore, we have included a rapid allele-specific genotyping assay for the detection of the Mmalton variant in the diagnostic algorithm of AATD used in our laboratory. The objective of this study was to test the usefulness of this new algorithm for Mmalton detection. Materials and methods: we performed a retrospective revision of all AATD determinations carried out in our laboratory over 2 years using the new diagnostic algorithm. Samples with a phenotype showing one or two M alleles and AAT levels discordant with that phenotype were analyzed using the Mmalton allele-specific genotyping assay. Results: we detected 49 samples with discordant AAT levels; 44 had the MM and five the MS phenotype. In nine of these samples, a single rare Mmalton variant was detected. During the study period, two family screenings were performed and four additional Mmalton variants were identified. Conclusion: the incorporation of the Mmalton allele-specific genotyping assay in the diagnostic algorithm of AATD resulted in a faster and cheaper method to detect this allele and avoided a significant delay in diagnosis when a sequencing assay was required. This methodology can be adapted to other rare variants. Standardized algorithms are required to obtain conclusive data of the real incidence of rare AAT alleles in each region

Microstructure, interfaces and properties of 3YTZP ceramic composites with 10 and 20 vol% different graphene-based nanostructures as fillers

The graphene family comprises not only single layer graphene but also graphene-based nanomaterials (GBN), with remarkably different number of layers, lateral dimension and price. In this work, two of these GBN, namely graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) with n~15–30 layers and few-layer graphene (FLG) with n < 3 layers have been evaluated as fillers in 3¿mol% yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia (3YTZP) ceramic composites. Composites with 10 and 20¿vol% GNP or FLG have been fabricated by wet powder processing and spark plasma sintering (SPS) and the influence of the content and number of layers of the graphene-based filler has been assessed. For both graphene-based fillers, an intermediate zirconia oxycarbide has been detected in the grain boundaries. The lower stacking degree and much more homogeneous distribution of the FLG, revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), can improve load transfer between the GBNs and the ceramic matrix. However, high FLG contents lower densification of the composites, due partly to the larger FLG interplanar spacing also estimated by TEM. The hardness (both Vickers and nanoindentation) and the elastic modulus decrease with increased GBN content and with improved graphene dispersion. The FLG greatly inhibit the crack propagation that occur perpendicular to their preferential orientation plane. The composites with thinner FLG have higher electrical conductivity than those with GNP. The highest electrical conductivity is achieved by composites with 20¿vol% FLG in the direction perpendicular to the compression axis during sintering, s¿¿=¿3400¿±¿500¿Sm-1.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version