Proxecto de investigación dun protocolo de acceso directo a fisioterapia na dor lumbar e os seus beneficios na sanidade pública

[Resumen] Introducción: El dolor lumbar es una patología que afecta a un gran número de personas de forma significativo en su calidad de vida, siendo una de las afecciones más prevalentes a nivel mundial, hecho que ha motivado a un aumento de su investigación en las últimas décadas tratando de entender esta clase de dolor y minimizar su impacto. Aun así, episodios como la pandemia del COVID-19 han provocado un aumento de los casos junto a una saturación del sistema sanitario, lo cual retroalimenta los procesos de cronificación y pérdida de funcionalidad que contribuyen a la instauración de esta problemática. Objetivo: El objetivo principal de este estudio es comparar la efectividad de dos enfoques de acceso a tratamiento: un modelo basado en un acceso directo a la fisioterapia, frente a la atención médica habitual de la sanidad pública, determinando si consigue igualar o mejorar al modelo de atención actual en términos de dolor, funcionalidad, calidad de vida, cronificación del dolor y disminución de la congestión del sistema de citación público. Material y método: Se plantea un ensayo clínico aleatorio, longitudinal, prospectivo, en paralelo. El estudio se llevará a cabo en tres centros de atención de la sanidad pública en Galicia, seleccionando a pacientes de entre 16 y 57 años que hayan solicitado una consulta médica a causa de dolor lumbar. Se analizarán variables como el dolor mediante la escala visual analógica (EVA); el nivel de actividad física, de calidad de vida y de incapacidad funcional mediante los cuestionarios IPAQ versión corta, SF-36 y Owestry respectivamente, además de recoger otras variables como fuerza, rango de movimiento, cronificación del dolor, etc. El estudio incluye dos grupos diferenciados creados de forma aleatoria: un grupo control, que recibirá la atención convencional del sistema sanitario; y un grupo experimental, que recibirá una atención basada en una primera consulta mediante videollamada, una consulta presencial y la asignación de un tratamiento en el hogar y/o en clínica para posteriormente evaluar, de forma observacional, su evolución en el tiempo.[Abstract] Background: Low back pain is a pathology that affects many people significantly in their quality of life, being one of the most prevalent conditions worldwide, a fact that has motivated an increase in its research in the last decades trying to understand this kind of pain and minimize its impact. Even so, episodes such as the COVID-19 pandemic have led to an increase in cases together with a saturation of the health system, which feeds back the processes of chronification and loss of functionality that contribute to the establishment of this problem. Objective: The main objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two approaches to access to treatment: a model based on direct access to physical therapy versus standard public health care, determining whether it matches or improves the current model of care in terms of pain, functionality, quality of life, chronification of pain and decreased congestion of the public citation system. Methods: A randomized, longitudinal, prospective, parallel, longitudinal clinical trial is proposed. The study will be carried out in three public health care centers in Galicia, selecting patients between 16 and 57 years of age who have requested a medical consultation because of low back pain. Variables such as pain will be analyzed using the visual analog scale (VAS); the level of physical activity, quality of life and functional disability using the IPAQ short version, SF-36 and Owestry questionnaires respectively, in addition to collecting other variables such as strength, range of motion, chronification of pain, etc. The study includes two differentiated groups created randomly: a control group, which will receive conventional care from the health system; and an experimental group, which will receive care based on an initial consultation by video-call, a face-to-face consultation, and the assignment of a treatment at home and/or in the clinic to subsequently evaluate, in an observational manner, its evolution over time.[Resumo] Introdución: A dor lumbar é una patoloxía que afecta a un gran número de persoas de forma significativa na súa calidade de vida, sendo unha das afeccións máis prevalentes a nivel mundial, feito que motivou un aumento da súa investigación nas últimas décadas, tratando de entender esta clase de dor e minimizar o seu impacto. Aínda así, episodios como a pandemia do COVID-19 provocou un aumento dos casos xunto a unha saturación do sistema sanitario, feito que retroalimenta os procesos de cronificación e pérdida de funcionalidade que contribúen á instauración desta problemática. Obxectivo: O obxectivo principal deste estudo é comparar a efectividade de dous enfoques de acceso a tratamento: un modelo baseado nun acceso directo á fisioterapia, fronte á atención médica habitual da sanidade pública, determinando se consegue igualar ou mellorar ao modelo de atención actual en términos de dor, funcionalidade, calidade de vida, cronificación da dor e diminución da conxestión do sistema de citación público. Material e método: Plantéase un ensaio clínico aleatorio, lonxitudinal, prospectivo, en paralelo. O estudo levarase a cabo en tres centros de atención da sanidade pública en Galicia, seleccionando a pacientes de entre 16 e 57 anos que haxan solicitado unha consulta médica a causa de dor lumbar. Analizaranse variables como a dor mediante a escala visual analóxica (EVA), o nivel de actividade física, de calidade de vida e de incapacidade funcional mediante os cuestionarios IPAQ versión corta, o cuestionario de calidade de vida SF-36 e a escala de incapacidade por dor lumbar de Oswestry respectivamente, ademais de recoller outras variables como forza, rango de movemento, cronificación da dor, etc. O estudo inclúe dous grupos diferenciados creados de forma aleatoria: un grupo control, que recibirá a atención convencional do sistema sanitario; e un grupo experimental, que recibirá unha atención baseada nunha primeira consulta mediante vídeo chamada, unha consulta presencial e a asignación dun tratamento no fogar e/ou en clínica para posteriormente avaliar, de forma observacional, a súa evolución no tempo.Traballo fin de grao (UDC.FCS). Fisioterapia. Curso 2022/2023

High efficiency solar cell impedance spectroscopy analysis

El proyecto consiste en medir espectroscpías de impedancias en células solares, representarlas en Bode y Nyquist, y a partir de dichas representaciones extraer un modelo circuital que sirva para entender el funcionamiento de dichas células.At the present project a set of measurements of solar cells have been done with the use of Impedance Spectroscopy. The main fact of the project is the fabrication of printed circuit boards that allowed the direct contact of the solar cells with the measurement machine without the necessity of cables. In this way, the parasitic capacity and inductance are considerably reduced allowing measurements without distortion at high frequencies (until 15 MHz). In addition, with impedance spectroscopy it is possible to get the frequency response of the devices and separate the contribution in the resistance of each one of the physical layers that forms the solar cell structure, obtaining parameters that models the behavior like the ideality factor, the effective life time or the radius of the base contact.En el presente proyecto se ha realizado la medición de células solares mediante espectroscopia de impedancias. El principal aporte realizado en el proyecto es la fabricación de placas de circuito impreso que permiten contactar las células solares directamente con la máquina de medidas sin necesidad de cables. De esta forma, la capacidad y la inductancia parásitas se reducen drásticamente consiguiendo medidas sin distorsión a altas frecuencias (hasta 15 MHz). Además, mediante la espectroscopia de impedancias se consigue obtener la respuesta frecuencial de los dispositivos y separar la contribución en la resistencia de cada una de las capas físicas que forman la estructura de la célula solar, obteniendo parámetros que modelan el comportamiento como son el factor de idealidad, el tiempo de vida efectivo o el radio del contacto de base.Al present projecte s’ha realitzat la mesura de cèl·lules solars mitjançant l’espectroscòpia d’impedàncies. La principal aportació realitzada al projecte és la fabricació de plaques de circuit imprès que permeten contactar cèl·lules solars directament amb la màquina de mesures sense necessitat de cables. D’aquesta forma, la capacitat i la inductància paràsites es redueixen dràsticament aconseguint mesures sense distorsió a altes freqüències (fins a 15 MHz). A més, mitjançant l’espectroscòpia d’impedàncies s’aconsegueix obtenir la resposta freqüencial dels dispositius i separar la contribució a la resistència de cadascuna de les capes físiques que formen l’estructura de la cèl·lula solar, obtenint paràmetres que modelen el comportament com el factor d’idealitat, el temps de vida efectiu o el radi del contacte de base

Repercusiones sociales y ambientales de la soja transgénica en la alimentación industrial del ganado

El 50% del pienso que se utilizan en la industria ganadera contiene soja (Glycine max), en su mayoría transgénica, la soja Roundup Ready® de Monsanto. En EE.UU, el cultivo de soja RR ha aumentado 15 veces el uso del glifosato, herbicida que destruye los organismos primarios de los ecosistemas, amenazando la supervivencia de las cadenas tróficas. En Argentina, el cultivo de soja RR ha pasado de 800.000 hectáreas a 13 millones en los últimos siete años, deforestando bosques y sabanas, y utilizando tierras dedicadas a pastos o cultivos alimentarios; reduciendo así la biodiversidad y la producción de alimentos para la población argentina. La intensificación del modelo productivo ganadero en España genera degradación medioambiental y pobreza en otros territorios. La soberanía alimentaria plantear modelos de producción más locales y respetuosos con el medioambiente y con las personas.Fifty per cent of intensive animal feeding contains soybean (Glycine max), mainly genetically modified Roundup Ready® soybean from Monsanto. In USA, RR soybean growing has increased 15 times the use of glifosate, herbicide that destroys primary organisms in ecosystems, threatening survival of trophic chains. In Argentina, soybean growing has increased from 800.000 to 13.000.000 hectares during the last seven years, deforesting rainforest and savannas, and using soil formerly employed for pastures and human food production; reducing biodiversity and food production for Argentinean people. The intensification of livestock productive model in Spain causes environmental degradation and poverty in other countries. Food sovereignty proposes other productive models, more local and respectful with environment and people

Spontaneous [2+2] macrocyclization trhough dynamic covalent aminal bonds

Aminals are characterized by the connectivity of two amino groups to the same carbon atom, being the nitrogenated equivalent of acetals. Unlike acetals, aminals have been slightly underexplored in dynamic covalent chemistry due to their inherent instability.[1] In addition, stable aminals from primary amines are rare since they exist in solution in equilibrium with other species, Figure 1a. We have recently described the formation of stable and dynamic aminals[2] that represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first example from primary amines and carbonyl compounds Furthermore, inspired by the preparation of macrocycles through a templated reaction[3], we have reported the preparation of stable [2+2] macrocycles by aminal bonds formation between aromatic dialdehydes and bis(1,3)-diamines based in in 3,3’-diaminopivalic compounds,[4] Figure 1b. Macrocycles have been characterized by NMR and MS, showing that, despite the large number of possibilities within the corresponding dynamic equilibrium, a single [2+2] macrocycle is mainly formed, without requiring the presence of any template. These macrocycles keep a dynamic behaviour and a surprising water stability, opening the door to be applied in new stimuli-responsive materials for biomedical applications.Acknowledgments: The present study has been supported by MCI/AEI/FEDER CTQ2016-75870P and RTI2018-096182-B-I00; by Andalusian Regional Ministry Health (grants: PI-0250-2016); by AGAUR (2017 SGR 208), by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and “Plan Propio Universidad de Málaga” (UMA-Andalucía-TECH), Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

An Alternative Approach to Determine the Dynamic Stiffness of Resilient Materials under Low Prestatic Load

Dynamic stiffness is a parameter of great importance for the assessment of the sound insulation properties of resilient materials commonly used under floating floors in dwellings. This work proposes a simplified approach that relies on an electro-mechanical circuit model for the determination of this parameter using a two-degree-of-freedom system of masses and springs. Unlike the method described in the standard ISO 9052-1, the proposed approach uses a single electrodynamic actuator both as an impulser and vibration sensor, thus reducing the instrumental requirements and yielding a more stable arrangement. By measuring the input electrical impedance of the mass-loaded actuator when coupled to a slab–material system it was possible to retrieve the mechanical mobility function thereof and thus obtain the dynamic stiffness of the material. Several materials were tested following the proposed approach, with results showing good agreement when compared to those obtained following the standardized procedure. In general, the preliminary research encourages the use of the proposed approach for characterization purposes

Deubiquitinating enzyme amino acid profiling reveals a class of ubiquitin esterases

The reversibility of ubiquitination by the action of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) serves as an important regulatory layer within the ubiquitin system. Approximately 100 DUBs are encoded by the human genome, and many have been implicated with pathologies, including neurodegeneration and cancer. Non-lysine ubiquitination is chemically distinct, and its physiological importance is emerging. Here, we couple chemically and chemoenzymatically synthesized ubiquitinated lysine and threonine model substrates to a mass spectrometry-based DUB assay. Using this platform, we profile two-thirds of known catalytically active DUBs for threonine esterase and lysine isopeptidase activity and find that most DUBs demonstrate dual selectivity. However, with two anomalous exceptions, the ovarian tumor domain DUB class demonstrates specific (iso)peptidase activity. Strikingly, we find the Machado–Joseph disease (MJD) class to be unappreciated non-lysine DUBs with highly specific ubiquitin esterase activity rivaling the efficiency of the most active isopeptidases. Esterase activity is dependent on the canonical catalytic triad, but proximal hydrophobic residues appear to be general determinants of non-lysine activity. Our findings also suggest that ubiquitin esters have appreciable cellular stability and that non-lysine ubiquitination is an integral component of the ubiquitin system. Its regulatory sophistication is likely to rival that of canonical ubiquitination.We thank Axel Knebel, Richard Ewan, Clare Johnson, and Daniel Fountaine from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Protein Production and Assay Development team, and MRC Reagents and Services, who all contributed to the generation of protein reagents required for the MALDI-TOF DUB assay platform. We thank Ronald Hay for provision of the plasmid encoding the constitutively active RNF4 E3 ligase. This work was funded by the United Kingdom MRC (MC_UU_12016/8), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/P003982/1), and The Michael J. Fox Foundation (12756). We also acknowledge pharmaceutical companies supporting the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy (Boehringer-Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, and Merck KGaA).Peer reviewe

Voltammetric behavior of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid in solution on GCE and encapsulated on multiwalled carbon nanotube modified electrode

The cyclic voltammetric behavior of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid (3,5-DNB) in 0.1 M PBS of pH 7 was examined at a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). 3,5-DNB was found to produce two irreversible reduction peaks corresponds to the reduction of each nitro group in the 3,5-DNB molecule. Our results contradict previous studies (P.Gopal et al. Journal of Molecular Liquids 178 (2013) 168-174) wherein the same peaks are assigned as, the first, to the reduction of the nitro group to hydroxylamine and the second, to the subsequent reduction to amine derivative. Also we report that GCE modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) can be derivatized with 3,5-DNB. The derivatization procedure involves simple immersion of the MWCNT-modified electrode in a solution containing 3,5-DNB. SEM images reveals that the network of nanotubes form a homogeneous, twisted, densely packed, three-dimensional array that remains attached to the GCE surface. Both electrochemical and SEM measurements indicate that 3,5-DNB is encapsulated on the electrode, most probably by being trapped within the pockets of the mentioned three-dimensional array, without formation of covalent bonding

Un estudio piloto acerca del impacto de las emociones humanas sobre la proliferación celular y la expresión proteica a través de ondas acústicas

Comunicación presentada en el 54º Congreso Español de Acústica – TECNIACÚSTICA 2023, Cuenca, 18-20 de octubre de 2023.La comunicación emocional es un fenómeno multimodal que afecta a la postura, los gestos, las expresiones faciales y la voz humana. En este contexto, los estados afectivos modulan sistemáticamente las señales acústicas emitidas en la producción del habla mediante los músculos laríngeos vía sistema nervioso central, transformando la señal acústica en un medio de transmisión afectivo. Diversos trabajos han analizado los parámetros acústico-emocionales de la voz humana, concluyendo que la calidad de voz, la frecuencia fundamental o el tono juegan un papel primordial en la expresión emocional. Paralelamente, un creciente número de estudios acumulan evidencia de la capacidad de las ondas mecánicas para afectar a la proliferación celular, poniendo de relieve el papel de las ondas mecánicas como agente biofísico. La presente investigación se centra en analizar los efectos de señales acústico-emocionales sobre la proliferación celular de la línea 661W y la expresión proteica. Para tal fin, se ha diseñado y calibrado un sistema de radiación electroacústico en el interior de una incubadora de CO2 y establecido un método de captación de la señal acústico-emocional. Resultados preliminares apuntan a la capacidad de señales acústico-emocionales para influir sobre la proliferación celular.Emotional communication is a multimodal phenomenon involving posture, gestures, facial expressions and the human voice. In this context, affective states systematically modulate the acoustic signals emitted in speech production through the laryngeal muscles via the central nervous system, transforming the acoustic signal into a means of affective transmission. Several studies have analyzed the acoustic-emotional parameters of the human voice, concluding that voice quality, fundamental frequency or pitch play a major role in emotional expression. In parallel, a growing number of studies accumulate evidence of the ability of mechanical waves to affect cell proliferation, highlighting the role of mechanical waves as a biophysical agent. The present investigation focuses on analyzing the effects of acoustic-emotional signals on 661W cell proliferation and protein expression. For this purpose, an electroacoustic radiation system has been designed and calibrated inside a CO2 incubator and a method of acoustic-emotional signal capture has been established. Preliminary results point to the ability of acoustic-emotional signals to influence cell proliferation

Price and service competition with maintenance service bundling

In many equipment manufacturing industries, firms compete with each other not only on products price, but also on maintenance service. More and more traditional products oriented firms are offering their customers products bundled with maintenance service (P&S bundles). In this study, we examine firms’ incentive to offer customers products bundling with long-term maintenance or repair support service in a duopoly competitive environment. When providing P&S bundles, a firm need to determine the service level (in terms of average response time guarantee for the service in this paper) to offer and needs to build a service facility to handle the maintenance service requirements. Based on the analysis of three sub-game models, we characterize the market conditions in which only one firm, both firms or neither firm will offer P&S bundles. Finally, we analyze the affects of several market factors on firms’ strategy choices