Prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome and Its Relationship with Ergonomic and Individual Factors in Presbyopic VDT Workers Using Progressive Addition Lenses

This cross-sectional study estimated computer vision syndrome (CVS) prevalence and analysed its relationship with video display terminal (VDT) exposure, as well as sociodemographic, refractive, environmental, and ergonomic characteristics in 109 presbyopic VDT workers wearing progressive addition lenses (PALs). Usual spectacles were measured with a lens analyser, and subjective refraction was performed by an optometrist. CVS was measured with the CVS-Q©. VDT exposure was collected. Ergonomic evaluations were conducted in a normal working posture looking at the screen. Air temperature and relative humidity were measured (thermohygrometer), and illumination was measured (luxmeter). Descriptive analysis and differences in CVS prevalence, as a function of the explanatory variables, were performed (chi-square test). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with CVS (OR and 95% CI). The mean age was 54.0 ± 4.8 years, and 43.1% were women. The mean hours of VDT use at work was 6.5 ± 1.3 hours/day. The prevalence of CVS was 74.3%. CVS was significantly associated with women (OR 3.40; 95% CI, 1.12–10.33), non-neutral neck posture (OR 3.27; 95% CI, 1.03–10.41) and altered workplace lighting (OR 3.64; 95% CI, 1.22–10.81). Providing training and information to workers regarding the importance of adequate lighting and ergonomic postures during VDT use is advised to decrease CVS and increase workplace quality of life.This study was supported by grants from the Department of Education, Research, Culture and Sports, Valencian Government [GV/2017/187]

Two multi-fragment recombination events resulted in the beta-lactam-resistant serotype 11A-ST6521 related to Spain9V-ST156 pneumococcal clone spreading in south-western Europe, 2008 to 2016

Background: The successful pneumococcal clone Spain(9V)-ST156 (PMEN3) is usually associated with vaccine serotypes 9V and 14. Aim: Our objective was to analyse the increase of a serotype 11A variant of PMEN3 as cause of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Spain and its spread in south-western Europe. Methods: We conducted a prospective multicentre study of adult IPD in Spain (2008-16). Furthermore, a subset of 61 penicillin-resistant serotype 11A isolates from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain were subjected to whole genome sequencing (WGS) and compared with 238 genomes from the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA). Results: Although the incidence of serotype 11A in IPD was stable, a clonal shift was detected from CC62 (penicillin-susceptible) to CC156 (penicillin-resistant). By WGS, three major 11A-CC156 lineages were identified, linked to ST156 (n=5 isolates; France, Italy and Portugal), ST166 (n=4 isolates; France and Portugal) and ST838/6521 (n=52 isolates; France, Portugal and Spain). Acquisition of the capsule allowed to escape vaccine effect. AP200 (11A-ST62) was the donor for ST156 and ST838/6521 but not for ST166. In-depth analysis of ST838/6521 lineage showed two multi-fragment recombination events including four and seven fragments from an 11A-ST62 and an NT-ST344 representative, respectively. Conclusion: The increase in penicillin-resistant serotype 11A IPD in Spain was linked to the spread of a vaccine escape PMEN3 recombinant clone. Several recombination events were observed in PMEN3 acquiring an 11A capsule. The most successful 11A-PMEN3 lineage spreading in south-western Europe appeared after two multi-fragment recombination events with representatives of two major pneumococcal clones (11A-ST62 and NT-ST344)

A new teaching strategy to teach microbiology through its history

Ante el nuevo reto de la implantación del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior los métodos de estudio deben adaptarse y servirse de herramientas innovadoras. Una buena estrategia para comprender una ciencia, su metodología y objetivos, es conocer su historia. Esta estrategia se hace especialmente útil en el caso de la Microbiología por ser una disciplina joven, que se ha cimentado precisamente en la metodología que sus creadores han ido elaborando. El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido crear una herramienta de utilidad en el aprendizaje de la Microbiología. Para ello hemos tomado como punto de apoyo su historia, es decir, explicar la Microbiología mediante la descripción de los descubrimientos y hechos que contribuyeron al desarrollo de esta ciencia. Para ello se ha creado una página web con dos aplicaciones independientes que operan sobre una base de datos común. 1. La primera de carácter público para los alumnos aunque con posibilidad de acceso restringido; se pueden consultar los contenidos sin posibilidad de alterarlos. 2. La otra aplicación es privada, los profesores pueden administrar los contenidos, y hacer uso de diferentes herramientas que facilitan la gestión de los mismos.In the light of the challenge presented by the European Higher Education Area, study strategies will have to adapt themselves and take advantage of innovative tools provided by modern information technology. One good way of understanding a science, its methodology and objectives is by taking an interest in its history. This approach is especially useful with regard to Microbiology, which is a fairly young discipline founded upon and made cohesive by the methods devised and constantly elaborated on by its designers. The aim of this work has been to offer guidance towards learning Microbiology. To this end we have chosen as our starting point, and indeed one of the keystones of our approach, the history of the subject itself; that is to say, an explanation of Microbiology via a description of the discoveries and milestones that have contributed to the development of this science. Thus we have set up a web page with two separate applications operating on one common database. 1. The first is openly available to the students, although allowing the possibility of restricted access. Its contents may be consulted but not altered. 2. The second is accessible only by lecturers, who may administer its contents and resort to different tools to facilitate the management of the information available on the site

Diversity and distribution of Halomonas in Rambla Salada, a hypersaline environment in the southeast of Spain

We have studied the diversity and distribution of Halomonas populations in the hypersaline habitat Rambla Salada (Murcia, southeastern Spain) by using different molecular techniques. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) using specific primers for the 16S rRNA gene of Halomonas followed by a multivariate analysis of the results indicated that richness and evenness of the Halomonas populations were mainly influenced by the season. We found no significant differences between the types of samples studied, from either watery sediments or soil samples. The highest value of diversity was reached in June 2006, the season with the highest salinity. Furthermore, canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) demonstrated that both salinity and pH significantly affected the structure of the Halomonas community. Halomonas almeriensis and two denitrifiers, H. ilicicola and H.ventosae were the predominant species. CARD-FISH showed that the percentage of Halomonas cells with respect to the total number of microorganisms ranged from 4.4% to 5.7%. To study the functional role of denitrifying species, we designed new primer sets targeting denitrification nirS and nosZ genes. Using these primers, we analyzed sediments from the upwelling zone collected in June 2006, where we found the highest percentage of denitrifiers (74%). Halomonas ventosae was the predominant denitrifier in this site

Specialisation and profitability in the Spanish thrift institutions (1986-1991)

Presented at the annual meeting of the European Association of University Teachers in Banking and Finance, Ingolstadt (DE), Sep 1993SIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Evaluation of the role of the endo-beta-(1,4)-glucanase gene FaEG3 in strawberry fruit softening

In strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa Duch., fruit, two different endo-beta-1,4-glucanase genes, FaEG1 and FaEG3, also named Cel1 and Cel2, are expressed during the softening process that occurs during fruit ripening. It has also been suggested that FaEG3, which contains a putative cellulose-binding domain, could play a key role in fruit development, since previous attempts to down-regulate this gene through transgenesis have been unsuccessful. In this investigation, we obtained transgenic strawberry plants containing an antisense sequence of the FaEG3 gene under the control of the 35S promoter. Ripened fruit from transgenic lines (Acel lines) showed large variation in FaEG3 silencing, but fruit firmness was similar to control fruit in all the lines. Two Acel lines showing almost 95% reductions in FaEG3 mRNA levels were selected for further study. In these lines, FaEG3 down-regulation was high, from 78 to 95%, at all fruit developmental stages, whereas FaEG1 was only slightly suppressed. In spite of the high FaEG3 silencing achieved, EGase activity was not modified in ripe fruit. At the cell wall level, walls from transgenic ripe fruit contained a significantly higher amount of the 4 M KOH fraction, which is enriched in hemicellulosic polymers. The analysis of this fraction by size exclusion chromatography showed that transgenic cell walls contained a smaller amount of higher molecular mass polymers than controls. Altogether, these results indicate that FaEG3 does not play a key role either in fruit development or fruit softening. However, its silencing affects the amount and, in a minor way, the size of hemicellulosic polymers. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Vitamin D Deficiency and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Relation to Body Mass Index

A relationship between vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been described. Considering that GDM prevalence depends on body mass index (BMI), our main objective was to determine if VDD is associated with GDM, independent of BMI. A cross-sectional study with 886 pregnant women was conducted in Elda (Spain) from September 2019 to June 2020. To assess the association, Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to estimate the prevalence ratio (PR). The observed GDM prevalence was 10.5%, while the VDD prevalence was 55.5%. In the crude model, both VDD and obesity were associated with GDM, but in the adjusted model, only VDD was statistically significant (PR = 1.635, p = 0.038). A secondary event analysis did not detect differences in VDD, but BMI yielded a higher frequency of births by cesarean section and newborns with a >90 percentile weight in the obesity group. In conclusion, VDD is associated with GDM, independent of BMI. Future longitudinal studies could provide information on causality

Diversity and distribution of Halomonas

We have studied the diversity and distribution of Halomonas populations in the hypersaline habitat Rambla Salada (Murcia, southeastern Spain) by using different molecular techniques. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) using specific primers for the 16S rRNA gene of Halomonas followed by a multivariate analysis of the results indicated that richness and evenness of the Halomonas populations were mainly influenced by the season. We found no significant differences between the types of samples studied, from either watery sediments or soil samples. The highest value of diversity was reached in June 2006, the season with the highest salinity. Furthermore, canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) demonstrated that both salinity and pH significantly affected the structure of the Halomonas community. Halomonas almeriensis and two denitrifiers, H. ilicicola and H.ventosae were the predominant species. CARD-FISH showed that the percentage of Halomonas cells with respect to the total number of microorganisms ranged from 4.4% to 5.7%. To study the functional role of denitrifying species, we designed new primer sets targeting denitrification nirS and nosZ genes. Using these primers, we analyzed sediments from the upwelling zone collected in June 2006, where we found the highest percentage of denitrifiers (74%). Halomonas ventosae was the predominant denitrifier in this site