The internship in the EHEA adaptation process. The UPF’s first year of graduate students’ opinion.

[ES] Para evaluar el proceso de adaptación de las prácticas a los nuevos grados en la Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) se está realizando un estudio en tres fases: una primera de análisis de la situación antes de la implementación del EEES, una segunda para conocer las previsiones de cambios en la implementación desde el punto de vista de los coordinadores-responsables, y una tercera, actualmente en curso, para comprobar el nivel de satisfacción de los estudiantes. El trabajo que se presenta en este artículo se centra en la metodología para obtener estas opiniones de los estudiantes dirigidas a detectar los aspectos susceptibles de mejora en la realización de las prácticas externas. Como primeras conclusiones podemos destacar que la incorporación de las prácticas externas como asignatura curricular en los estudios de grado ha sido un acierto, pues ha aumentado el grado de satisfacción de los primeros estudiantes de grado. La satisfacción del estudiante es aceptablemente alta en lo que se refi[EN] A three-stage study is being performed in order to assess the adaptation of the traineeships to the EHEA Degrees at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF). First, the situation previous to the EHEA deployment was considered. Second, the necessary changes due to the EHEA as forecasted were considered. Third, the current research, which is still in progress, aims to check student satisfaction in traineeships. This working paper describes thoroughly the methodology, and identifies room for improvement in traineeship performance. As a first conclusion we have found that the incorporation of the traineeships as a curricular subject in the degree studies has been a success, because the students’ satisfaction level has increased. Their satisfaction is acceptably high with technical aspects (assignment process, preliminary information, monitoring, etc.) and it is very high with their motivation. Four out of five students believe it has been very important for them do the internships well. Furthermore,Alemany Costa, J.; Perramon Tornil, X.; Panadès Estruch, L. (2014). Las prácticas externas en el proceso de adaptación al EEES. El punto de vista de la primera promoción de grado en la UPF. REDU. Revista de Docencia Universitaria. 12(4):115-139. https://doi.org/10.4995/redu.2014.5617OJS11513912

Reformulation of Pastry Products to Improve Effects on Health

Obesity is increasing at an alarming rate and has been described as a global pandemic. This increase has several explanations, including an increase in caloric intake, low levels of physical activity and the nutritional composition of our diets. In addition to public health policies based on healthy dietary patterns and recommendations based on the Mediterranean and other healthy diets, food reformulation, especially of commonly consumed processed foods, such as bakery products and pastries, is needed in the fight against obesity. Among nutritional reformulation strategies, reductions in caloric density, salt, added sugar, saturated and trans-fats are important in order to reduce the associated risk of developing chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer

Sommeil et course au large en solitaire : comportements des coureurs et étude de faisabilité d’un « agenda interactif de sommeil »

La course au large en solitaire associe un effort physique et cognitif intense et prolongé durant 10 à 100 jours dans des conditions extrêmes. Elle implique le recours à un sommeil fractionné et des périodes de repos courtes réparties sur l’ensemble du nycthémère. Ces difficultés sont évoquées pour expliquer les incidents, accidents et altérations des performances.Cette étude recense les stratégies mises en œuvre par neuf des meilleurs skippers de la spécialité pour préparer puis gérer ces contraintes au cours d’une course, puis suit un skipper durant une course autour du monde en solitaire et sans escale d’une durée de cent jours.A partir de ces observations, il a été proposé à un skipper expérimenté de tester un agenda interactif de « sommeil » afin d’apprendre à gérer de façon optimale ses périodes de repos durant une course.Ce travail met en évidence que les sujets sont conscients de l’importance de gérer leurs périodes de repos, mais mettent en œuvre peu de stratégies de préparation et de gestion du sommeil avant et durant leur course. Ils présentent une période d’adaptation à ces conditions extrêmes allant de 24 à 72 heures et rencontrent ensuite des périodes de fatigue extrême avec hallucinations. Cette fatigue a des conséquences sur la performance, mais aussi sur l’accidentologie qui apparaît nettement majorée avec un possible délai allant jusqu’à 72h après l’installation d’une dette de sommeil trop importante. Les outils de laboratoire, qui ne pourraient donner des informations intéressantes que sur la base d’une utilisation continue, sont très difficiles à mettre en œuvre ici.Dans ces circonstances, le recours à un agenda de sommeil « interactif », utilisé par le sujet pour comptabiliser et gérer la répartition et la durée de ses périodes de sommeil, semble être une solution individuelle de gestion des alternances veille sommeil. Il pourrait exister un seuil critique de dette de sommeil en dessous duquel on observerait une fréquence plus élevée d’incidents et d’accidents. Cette étude préliminaire sera poursuivie par une observation à plus grande échelle afin de pouvoir valider l’ « agenda interactif de sommeil » comme outil de routine tant descriptif que d’apprentissage.Solo sailing racing associates intense and prolonged (10 to 100 days) physical and cognitive effort under extreme conditions. It involves split sleep and short rest periods distributed throughout the day and night. These difficulties are mentioned to explain incidents, accidents and changes in performance.This study identifies the strategies used by nine of the best solo skippers to prepare and then manage these constraints during a race. It then follows one of the skippers for a one-hundred-day non-stop solo race around the world.Based on these observations, it was proposed to one skipper that he test an interactive “sleep” diary so that he could learn how to manage his periods of sleep in an optimal way during a race.This study shows that the subjects are aware of the importance of managing their periods of rest, but use few sleep preparation and management strategies before and during their race. They undergo an adaptation period to these extreme conditions for 24 to 72 hours and then experience periods of extreme fatigue with hallucinations. This fatigue has consequences on their performance, but also on accidentology, which seems much greater with a possible time lag of up to 72 hours after an excessive sleep debt. Laboratory tools, which could provide interesting information only with continuous use, are very difficult to use under these extreme conditions.Under these circumstances, an interactive sleep diary, used by the subject to record and manage the distribution and duration of his periods of sleep, seems to be an individual solution for managing the wake and sleep cycle. A critical sleep-debt threshold may exist, below which a higher frequency of incidents and accidents would be observed. This preliminary study will be followed by larger scale observations in order to validate the “interactive sleep diary” as a routine descriptive and learning tool.La regata a vela en solitario se asocia a un esfuerzo físico y cognitivo intenso y prolongado durante 10 a 100 días en condiciones extremas. Esto implica el recurrir a un sueño fraccionado y a periodos de reposo cortos distribuidos en el conjunto del día y la noche. Estas dificultades son evocadas para explicar los incidentes, accidentes y deterioro en el rendimiento.Este estudio reúne las estrategias adoptadas por nueve de los mejores skippers de la especialidad para prepararse y manejar las dificultades a lo largo de una carrera, después se incluye el seguimiento a un capitán durante una carrera alrededor del mundo en solitario y sin escalas, con una duración de 100 días.A partir de estas observaciones, se propuso a un capitán con experiencia probar una “agenda interactiva de sueño”, con el fin de aprender a administrar de forma óptima sus periodos de reposo durante una carrera.Este trabajo pone en evidencia que los sujetos son conscientes de la importancia de administrar sus periodos de sueño, pero ponen en marcha pocas estrategias de preparación y de manejo del sueño antes y durante sus carreras. Los resultados muestran un periodo de adaptación a estas condiciones extremas de 24 a 72 horas seguidos de periodos de fatiga extrema con alucinaciones. Esta fatiga tiene consecuencias sobre el rendimiento, pero también sobre la accidentalidad, que aparece claramente aumentada en un posible plazo hasta de 72 horas, después del establecimiento de una deuda de sueño muy importante. Las herramientas de laboratorio, que no podrían dar informaciones interesantes sino sobre la base de una utilización continua, son muy difíciles de aplicar en este caso.En estas circunstancias, el recurrir a una “agenda de sueño interactivo", utilizada por el sujeto para contabilizar y administrar la distribución y la duración de sus periodos de sueño, parece ser una solución individual para manejar la alternancia entre el sueño y la vigilia. Puede existir un límite crítico de deuda de sueño debajo del cual se puede observar una frecuencia más elevada de incidentes y accidentes. Este estudio preliminar será proseguido por una observación a mayor escala con el fin de poder validar la “agenda interactiva de sueño” como una herramienta tanto descriptiva como de aprendizaje

Diseño de escenarios de aprendizaje basados en la indagación con soporte tecnológico. Estrategias de co-diseño entre docentes e investigadores.

En el marco del proyecto Design2Learn se presenta el proceso de codiseño docentes e investigadores de escenarios de aprendizaje basados en la indagación con soporte tecnológico. Se detallan los principios de diseño. Los resultados incluyen los retos identificados por profesores de distintas disciplinas, así como la secuencia seguida para el proceso de co-diseño y creación de escenarios de aprendizaje basado en el aprendizaje indagativo y potenciados por tecnología en la formación universitaria

(1)H-NMR-based metabolomic analysis of the effect of moderate wine consumption on subjects with cardiovascular risk factors

Moderate wine consumption is associated with health-promoting activities. An H-NMR-based metabolomic approach was used to identify urinary metabolomic differences of moderate wine intake in the setting of a prospective, randomized, crossover, and controlled trial. Sixty-one male volunteers with high cardiovascular risk factors followed three dietary interventions (28 days): dealcoholized red wine (RWD) (272mL/day, polyphenol control), alcoholized red wine (RWA) (272mL/day) and gin (GIN) (100mL/day, alcohol control). After each period, 24-h urine samples were collected and analyzed by (1) H-NMR. According to the results of a one-way ANOVA, significant markers were grouped in four categories: alcohol-related markers (ethanol); gin-related markers; wine-related markers; and gut microbiota markers (hippurate and 4-hydroxphenylacetic acid). Wine metabolites were classified into two groups; first, metabolites of food metabolome: tartrate (RWA and RWD), ethanol, and mannitol (RWA); and second, biomarkers that relates to endogenous modifications after wine consumption, comprising branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolite (3-methyl-oxovalerate). Additionally, a possible interaction between alcohol and gut-related biomarkers has been identified. To our knowledge, this is the first time that this approach has been applied in a nutritional intervention with red wine. The results show the capacity of this approach to obtain a comprehensive metabolome picture including food metabolome and endogenous biomarkers of moderate wine intake

Waist-to-Height Ratio and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Elderly Individuals at High Cardiovascular Risk

IntroductionSeveral anthropometric measurements have been associated with cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes mellitus and other cardiovascular risk conditions, such as hypertension or metabolic syndrome. Waist-to-height-ratio has been proposed as a useful tool for assessing abdominal obesity, correcting other measurements for the height of the individual. We compared the ability of several anthropometric measurements to predict the presence of type-2 diabetes, hyperglycemia, hypertension, atherogenic dyslipidemia or metabolic syndrome.Materials and MethodsIn our cross-sectional analyses we included 7447 Spanish individuals at high cardiovascular risk, men aged 55–80 years and women aged 60–80 years, from the PREDIMED study. Logistic regression models were fitted to evaluate the odds ratio of presenting each cardiovascular risk factor according to various anthropometric measures. The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) were used to compare the predictive ability of these measurements.ResultsIn this relatively homogeneous cohort with 48.6% of type-2 diabetic individuals, the great majority of the studied anthropometric parameters were significantly and positively associated with the cardiovascular risk factors. No association was found between BMI and body weight and diabetes mellitus. The AUCs for the waist-to-height ratio and waist circumference were significantly higher than the AUCs for BMI or weight for type-2 diabetes, hyperglycemia, atherogenic dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome. Conversely, BMI was the strongest predictor of hypertension.ConclusionsWe concluded that measures of abdominal obesity showed higher discriminative ability for diabetes mellitus, high fasting plasma glucose, atherogenic dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome than BMI or weight in a large cohort of elderly Mediterranean individuals at high cardiovascular risk. No significant differences were found between the predictive abilities of waist-to-height ratio and waist circumference on the metabolic disease

A provegetarian food pattern and reduction in total mortality in the Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea

[Background]: Vegetarian diets have been associated with reduced mortality. Because a pure vegetarian diet might not easily be embraced by many individuals, consuming preferentially plant-derived foods would be a more easily understood message. A provegetarian food pattern (FP) emphasizing preference for plant-derived foods might reduce all-cause mortality.[Objective]: The objective was to identify the association between an a priori–defined provegetarian FP and all-cause mortality.[Design]: We followed 7216 participants (57% women; mean age: 67 y) at high cardiovascular risk for a median of 4.8 y. A validated 137-item semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire was administered at baseline and yearly thereafter. Fruit, vegetables, nuts, cereals, legumes, olive oil, and potatoes were positively weighted. Added animal fats, eggs, fish, dairy products, and meats or meat products were negatively weighted. Energy-adjusted quintiles were used to assign points to build the provegetarian FP (range: 12–60 points). Deaths were confirmed by review of medical records and the National Death Index.[Results]: There were 323 deaths during the follow-up period (76 from cardiovascular causes, 130 from cancer, 117 for noncancer, noncardiovascular causes). Higher baseline conformity with the provegetarian FP was associated with lower mortality (multivariable-adjusted HR for ≥40 compared with <30 points: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.88). Similar results were found with the use of updated information on diet (RR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.39, 0.89).[Conclusions]: Among omnivorous subjects at high cardiovascular risk, better conformity with an FP that emphasized plant-derived foods was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality. This trial was registered at www.controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN35739639

Mediterranean Diet and Atherothrombosis Biomarkers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Scope To assess whether following a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) improves atherothrombosis biomarkers in high cardiovascular risk individuals. Methods and results In 358 random volunteers from the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea trial, the 1‐year effects on atherothrombosis markers of an intervention with MedDiet, enriched with virgin olive oil (MedDiet‐VOO; n = 120) or nuts (MedDiet‐Nuts; n = 119) versus a low‐fat control diet (n = 119), and whether large increments in MedDiet adherence (≥3 score points, versus compliance decreases) and intake changes in key food items are associated with 1‐year differences in biomarkers. Differences are observed between 1‐year changes in the MedDiet‐VOO intervention and control diet on the activity of platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase in high‐density lipoproteins (HDLs) (+7.5% [95% confidence interval: 0.17; 14.8]) and HDL‐bound α1‐antitrypsin levels (−6.1% [−11.8; −0.29]), and between the MedDiet‐Nuts intervention and the control arm on non‐esterified fatty acid concentrations (−9.3% [−18.1; −0.53]). Large MedDiet adherence increments are associated with less fibrinogen (−9.5% [−18.3; −0.60]) and non‐esterified fatty acid concentrations (−16.7% [−31.7; −1.74]). Increases in nut, fruit, vegetable, and fatty fish consumption, and decreases in processed meat intake are linked to enhancements in biomarkers. Conclusion MedDiet improves atherothrombosis biomarkers in high cardiovascular risk individuals.This work was supported by grants of Instituto de Salud Carlos III [OBN17PI02, PIE14/00045_INFLAMES, CB06/03/0019, CB06/03/0028, and CD17/00122 (A.H.)], and Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (2017 SGR 222)

Blood pressure values and depression in hypertensive individuals at high cardiovascular risk

Hypertension and depression are both important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, the association of blood pressure on and depression has not been completely established. This study aims to analyze whether depression may influence the control of blood pressure in hypertensive individuals at high cardiovascular risk. Cross-sectional study, embedded within the PREDIMED clinical trial, of 5954 hypertensive patients with high cardiovascular risk factor profiles. The relationship between blood pressure control and depression was analyzed. A multivariate analysis (logistic and log-linear regression), adjusting for potential confounders (socio-demographic factors, body mass index, lifestyle, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and antihypertensive treatment), was performed. Depressive patients, with and without antidepressant treatment, had better blood pressure control (OR: 1.28, CI 95%: 1.06-1.55, and OR: 1.30, CI 95%: 1.03-1.65, respectively) than non-depressive ones. Regarding blood pressure levels, systolic blood pressure values (mmHg) were found to be lower in both treated and untreated depressive patients (Log coefficient Beta: -1.59, 95% CI: -0.50 to -2.69 and Log coefficient Beta: -3.49, 95% CI: -2.10 to -4.87, respectively). Among hypertensive patients at high cardiovascular risk, the control of blood pressure was better in those diagnosed with depression

Blood pressure values and depression in hypertensive individuals at high cardiovascular risk

BACKGROUND: Hypertension and depression are both important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, the association of blood pressure on and depression has not been completely established. This study aims to analyze whether depression may influence the control of blood pressure in hypertensive individuals at high cardiovascular risk. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, embedded within the PREDIMED clinical trial, of 5954 hypertensive patients with high cardiovascular risk factor profiles. The relationship between blood pressure control and depression was analyzed. A multivariate analysis (logistic and log-linear regression), adjusting for potential confounders (socio-demographic factors, body mass index, lifestyle, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and antihypertensive treatment), was performed. RESULTS: Depressive patients, with and without antidepressant treatment, had better blood pressure control (OR: 1.28, CI 95%: 1.06-1.55, and OR: 1.30, CI 95%: 1.03-1.65, respectively) than non-depressive ones. Regarding blood pressure levels, systolic blood pressure values (mmHg) were found to be lower in both treated and untreated depressive patients (Log coefficient Beta: -1.59, 95% CI: -0.50 to -2.69 and Log coefficient Beta: -3.49, 95% CI: -2.10 to -4.87, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Among hypertensive patients at high cardiovascular risk, the control of blood pressure was better in those diagnosed with depression. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Unique identifier: ISRCTN35739639