Adherencia al tratamiento con CPAP en pacientes con síndrome de apnea obstructiva del sueño

Las apneas son el cese de la respiración de al menos 10 segundos de duración (apnea) durante el sueño. Si añadimos la somnolencia aparece el Síndrome de la Apnea Obstructiva del Sueño (SAOS) Existen diversos factores de riesgo de padecer SAOS como la edad, sexo, obesidad, etc. Además la apnea es un gran factor de riesgo de padecer enfermedades cardiovasculares. El tratamiento mas efectivo del SAOS es dormir conectado a una mascarilla nasal o facial a la que se aplica una presión positiva aérea continua (CPAP) procedente de una turbina eléctrica. La condición para que la CPAP demuestre eficacia es que el uso de la misma sea diario y durante un mínimo de 4 h por noche. El objetivo de este estudio es estudiar la adherencia al tratamiento de pacientes con SAOS y que factores influyen en dicha adherencia. La población de estudio es la cohorte de SAOS de Zaragoza, se han estudiado diversas variables antropométricas así como sus hábitos tóxicos, antecedente clínicos previos, etc. Y se ha tenido en cuenta su consumo de CPAP a través de la empresa suministradora. Después de realizar el análisis estadístico llegamos a la conclusión de que el uso de CPAP durante el sueño de los pacientes con apnea del sueño aumenta con los años de tratamiento (objetivo primario) y que se observa una estabilidad individual de su uso en el tiempo y de que los principales factores que determinan la adherencia al tratamiento de la CPAP son el grado de sobrepeso/obesidad y el tiempo de seguimiento (objetivo secundario) En resumen, los pacientes con SAOS en tratamiento con CPAP muestran una adherencia al tratamiento que aumenta principalmente con el tiempo de seguimiento y parte con su nivel de sobrepeso/obesidad

Nanostructural changes in dentine caused by endodontic irrigants

Objective: To study nanostructural dentinal changes produced by endodontic irrigants. Study Design: Experimental study. Nanoindentations were performed on peritubular (PD) and intertubular dentine (ID) with an atomic force microscopy. Stiffness and adhesion force were determined before and after application of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Normalized differences before and after treatment for stiffness and adhesion forces were calculated. A paired T-test was used to compare stiffnes and adhesion force before and after irrigants application. Results: After treatment with EDTA there was a 29.80% reduction in stiffness in ID and a 63.53% reduction in PD. Adhesion force was reduced by 21.22% and 8.21% respectively. After treatment with 5.25% NaOCI stiffness was reduced by 2.49% in ID and increased by 15.01% in PD. Adhesion force increased by 25.11% and 23.97% respectively. Conclusions: 17% EDTA reduced stiffness and adhesion force in ID and PD. Treatment with NaOCI at 5.25% had no significant effect on stiffness but did affect adhesion force in ID and PD

Effect of root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth, productivity and blast resistance in rice

Altres ajuts: CERCA Programme/Generalitat de CatalunyaBackground: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form symbiotic associations with roots in most land plants. AM symbiosis provides benefits to host plants by improving nutrition and fitness. AM symbiosis has also beenassociated with increased resistance to pathogen infection in several plant species. In rice, the effects of AM symbiosis is less studied, probably because rice is mostly cultivated in wetland areas, and plants in such ecosystems have traditionally been considered as non-mycorrhizal. In this study, we investigated the effect of AM inoculation on performance of elite rice cultivars (Oryza sativa, japonica subspecies) under greenhouse and field conditions, focusing on growth, resistance to the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae and productivity. Results: The response to inoculation with either Funneliformis mosseae or Rhizophagus irregularis was evaluated in a panel of 12 rice cultivars. Root colonization was confirmed in all rice varieties. Under controlled greenhouse conditions, R. irregularis showed higher levels of root colonization than F. mosseae. Compared to non-inoculated plants, the AM-inoculated plants had higher Pi content in leaves. Varietal differences were observed in the growth response of rice cultivars to inoculation with an AM fungus, which were also dependent on the identity of the fungus. Thus, positive, negligible, and negative responses to AM inoculation were observed among rice varieties. Inoculation with F. mosseae or R. irregularis also conferred protection to the rice blast fungus, but the level of mycorrhiza-induced blast resistance varied among host genotypes. Rice seedlings (Loto and Gines varieties) were pre-inoculated with R. irregularis, transplanted into flooded fields, and grown until maturity. A significant increase in grain yield was observed in mycorrhizal plants compared with non-mycorrhizal plants, which was related to an increase in the number of panicles. Conclusion: Results here presented support that rice plants benefit from the AM symbiosis while illustrating the potential of using AM fungi to improve productivity and blast resistance in cultivated rice. Differences observed in the mycorrhizal responsiveness among the different rice cultivars in terms of growth promotion and blast resistance indicate that evaluation of benefits received by the AM symbiosis needs to be carefully evaluated on a case-by-case basis for efficient exploitation of AM fungi in rice cultivation

Forkhead Box P3 Methylation and Expression in Men with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

BACKGROUND: Epigenetic changes in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been proposed as a mechanism for end-organ vulnerability. In children with OSA, Forkhead Box P3 (FOXP3) DNA methylation were associated with inflammatory biomarkers; however, the methylation pattern and its effect in the expression of this gene have not been tested in adults with OSA. METHODS: Plasma samples from subjects without comorbid conditions other than OSA were analyzed (the Epigenetics Status and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea (EPIOSA) Study: NCT02131610). In 16 patients with severe OSA (Apnea-Hypopnea Index-AHI- > 30 events/h) and seven matched controls (AHI 10) and 31 controls, we quantified FOXP3 protein expression by ELISA and gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR. C-reactive protein (CRP) and plasma Treg cells were also evaluated. RESULTS: Neither the levels of the promoter nor the TSDR demethylated region were different between controls and patients with OSA, whether they were grouped by normal or high CRP. FOXP3 protein and mRNA expression did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: FOXP3 methylation or its expression is not altered in adults with OSA, whatever their inflammatory status

Agronomic performance and remote sensing assessment of organic and mineral fertilization in rice fields

Introduction: Rice heavily relies on nitrogen fertilizers, posing environmental, resource, and geopolitical challenges. This study explores sustainable alternatives like animal manure and remote sensing for resource-efficient rice cultivation. It aims to assess the long-term impact of organic fertilization and remote sensing monitoring on agronomic traits, yield, and nutrition. Methods: A six-year experiment in rice fields evaluated fertilization strategies, including pig slurry (PS) and chicken manure (CM) with mineral fertilizers (MIN), MIN-only, and zero-fertilization. Traits, yield, spectral responses, and nutrient content were measured. Sentinel-2 remote sensing tracked crop development. Results: Cost-effective organic fertilizers (PS and CM) caused a 13% and 15% yield reduction but still doubled zero-fertilization yield. PS reduced nitrogen leaching. Heavy metals in rice grains were present at safe amounts. Organic-fertilized crops showed nitrogen deficiency at the late vegetative stages, affecting yield. Sentinel-2 detected nutrient deficiencies through NDVI. Discussion: Organic fertilizers, especially PS, reduce nitrogen loss, benefiting the environment. However, they come with yield trade-offs and nutrient management challenges that can be managed and balanced with reduced additional mineral applications. Sentinel-2 remote sensing helps manage nutrient deficiencies. In summary, this research favors cost-effective organic fertilizers with improved nutrient management for sustainable rice production.This work was commissioned and funded by the Catalan Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, by the projects TED2021-131606B-C21 and PLEC2021-007786 of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and by the CROPDIVA (Climate Resilient Orphan croPs for increased DIVersity in Agriculture) project through the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101000847. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Experimental learning of Theory of Structures using K’NEX and SAP2000

[EN] This work describes an innovation carried out during the course 2021/22 in the computer sessions of the subject “Theory of Structures”, taught in Mechanical Engineering (third year subject) and Industrial Technologies Engineering (fourth year subject) degrees. The authors proposed a “hands-on” approach with the purpose of designing a truss bridge, combining an experimental part with K’NEX toys and a computer session with the software for Structural Analysis SAP2000. The activity was planned as a group activity and was scheduled in three sessions: 1) a creative experimental session with K’NEX to propose a first design, 2) a modelling session with SAP2000 in order to detect non-efficient elements, and 3) a final experimental session with K’NEX to propose a final design. The efficiency of the proposed truss bridges is evaluated through the ratio between the supported weight and the weight of the structure. The outcomes of this experience are: a higher motivation and participation of the students, highly creative solutions that exceeded the initial expectations, and a better understanding of the behaviour of the models, especially joints, forces, and movement restrictions.[ES] Este trabajo describe una innovación llevada a cabo durante el curso 2021/22 en las sesiones informáticas de la asignatura “Teoría de Estructuras”, impartida en los grados de Ingeniería Mecánica (asignatura de tercer curso) e Ingeniería en Tecnologías Industriales (asignatura de cuarto curso). Los autores proponen un enfoque práctico con el propósito de diseñar un puente de celosía, combinando una parte experimental de construcción de la estructura con juguetes K’NEX y una sesión de ordenador con el software para análisis estructural SAP2000. La actividad se planificó como una actividad grupal y se programó en tres sesiones: 1) una sesión experimental creativa con K'NEX para proponer un primer diseño, 2) una sesión de modelado con SAP2000 para detectar elementos no eficientes, y 3) una sesión experimental final con K'NEX para proponer un diseño final. La eficiencia de los puentes de celosía propuestos se evaluó mediante la relación entre el peso soportado y el peso de la estructura. Los resultados de esta experiencia son: una mayor motivación y participación de los estudiantes, soluciones muy creativas que superaron las expectativas iniciales y una mejor comprensión del comportamiento de los modelos, especialmente las articulaciones, fuerzas y restricciones de movimiento.Albero, V.; Forner-Escrig, J.; Roig-Flores, M.; Moliner, E.; Portolés, J. (2022). Aprendizaje experiencial de Teoría de Estructuras con K’NEX y SAP2000. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 793-806. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2022.2022.1581279380

Soluble RAGE in COPD, with or without coexisting obstructive sleep apnoea

Background: Hypoxia can reduce the levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE), a new anti-infammatory biomarker of COPD. We assessed sRAGE in patients with hypoxia-related diseases such as COPD, OSA and OSA-COPD overlap. Methods: Plasma levels of sRAGE were measured in 317 subjects at baseline (57 heathy nonsmokers [HNS], 84 healthy smokers [HS], 79 OSA, 62 COPD and 35 OSA-COPD overlap patients) and in 294 subjects after one year of follow-up (50 HNS, 74 HS, 77 OSA, 60 COPD and 33 overlap). Results: After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status and body mass index, sRAGE levels showed a reduction in OSA (− 12.5%, p=0.005), COPD (− 14.8%, p<0.001) and OSA-COPD overlap (− 12.3%, p=0.02) compared with HNS. There were no diferences when comparing sRAGE plasma levels between overlap patients and those with OSA or COPD alone. At follow-up, sRAGE levels did not change signifcantly in healthy subjects, COPD and OSA or OSA-COPD overlap nontreated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Moreover, in patients with OSA and OSA-COPD overlap who were treated with CPAP, sRAGE increased signifcantly. Conclusions: The levels of sRAGE are reduced in COPD and OSA. Treatment with CPAP appears to improve sRAGE levels in patients with OSA who also had COPD.The EPIOSA study (NCT02131610) was supported by Grants Number PI12/02175, PI15/01940 and PI18/01524 from the Instituto Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Health, Madrid, Spain and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and by a Grant Number 01/2010 from the SADAR-Pneumo Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain

Avaluació d’intervencions psicològiques en l’àmbit de la violència sexual i física en la infància i l’adolescència

Intervencions psicològiques; Violència; Infants; AdolescentsIntervenciones psicológicas; Violencia; Infantes; AdolescentesPsychological interventions; Violence; Children; TeenagersEn aquest article es presenten avaluacions d'intervencions psicològiques per atendre els infants i adolescents víctimes de violències sexuals i físiques

Avaluació d’intervencions psicològiques en l’àmbit de la violència sexual i física en la infància i l’adolescència

Intervencions psicològiques; Violència; Infants; AdolescentsPsychological interventions; Violence; Infants; TeenagersIntervenciones psicológicas; Violencia; Niños; AdolescentesEl maltractament i la violència física o sexual en la infància i l’adolescència són, segons indica l’Organització Mundial de la Salut (OMS), un problema greu de salut pública. També es consideren una violació dels drets humans que pot tenir importants conseqüències per a la salut, el desenvolupament o la dignitat dels infants i adolescents. Així, a les guies i els protocols d’actuació existents es recomana que, davant de símptomes i de l’impacte en la salut mental deguts a la violència, els infants i adolescents rebin suport psicològic. Val a dir que no tots els infants i adolescents que presenten violència física o sexual desenvolupen simptomatologia o trastorns de salut mental. L'objectiu general d'aquest informe és avaluar l’impacte d’una selecció d’intervencions psicològiques en la infància i l’adolescència en el context de la violència física i sexual a partir d’una revisió sistemàtica de l’evidència científica

The effect of a live music therapy intervention on critically ill paediatric patients in the intensive care unit: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study

Background: Music therapy as a nonpharmacological means of managing patient pain, anxiety, and discomfort is a recognised technique, although it is not widely used in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical effect of a live music therapy intervention on vital signs and levels of discomfort and pain for paediatric patients in the PICU. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental pretesteposttest study. The music therapy intervention was carried out by two music therapists who were specifically trained, each possessing a master's degree in the field of hospital music therapy. Ten minutes before the start of the music therapy session, the investigators recorded the vital signs of the patients and assessed their levels of discomfort and pain. The procedure was repeated at the start of the intervention; at 2, 5, and 10 min during the intervention; and at 10 min following the conclusion of the intervention. Results: Two hundred fifty-nine patients were included; 55.2% were male, with a median age of 1 year (0 e21). A total of 96 (37.1%) patients suffered a chronic illness. The main reason for PICU admission was respiratory illness, at 50.2% (n ¼ 130). Significantly lower values were observed for heart rate (p ¼ 0.002), breathing rate (p < 0.001), and degree of discomfort (p < 0.001) during the music therapy session. Conclusions: Live music therapy results in reduced heart rates, breathing rates, and paediatric patient discomfort levels. Although music therapy is not widely used in the PICU, our results suggest that using interventions such as that used in this study could help reduce patient discomfor