“Flying off”. Programme for the protection of the Iberian Imperial Eagle

[Resumo] Co obxectivo de contribuír á recuperación da aguia imperial ibérica, unha das rapaces máis ameazadas de Europa, endémica da península Ibérica e “en perigo”, SEO/BirdLife desenvolve o Programa Alzando o Voo, estruturado en tres grandes liñas de actuación, xestión de hábitat, conservación e participación e sensibilización e difusión. Para levar a cabo estas liñas de traballo e alcanzar o obxectivo de contribuír á conservación da aguia imperial ibérica faise imprescindible o uso dos instrumentos sociais de comunicación, sensibilización, participación e educación[Abstract] With the objective of contributing to the recovery of the Iberian Imperial Eagle, one of the birds of prey which is most under threat in Europe, rife in the Iberian Peninsula and “In Danger”, the SEO Bird Life organization developed the campaign known as “Flying Off”, which is strucyured into three major lines of action, that is, management of the habitat, protection and participation, and informing the public opinion and providing information. In order to carry out these lines of action and to reach the objective of contributing to the protection of the Iberian Imperial Eagle, there exists a great need for the use of the social instruments of communication, informing the public opinion, participation and educatio

Anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of microalgal carotenoids

Acute inflammation is a key component of the immune system's response to pathogens, toxic agents, or tissue injury, involving the stimulation of defense mechanisms aimed to removing pathogenic factors and restoring tissue homeostasis. However, uncontrolled acute inflammatory response may lead to chronic inflammation, which is involved in the development of many diseases, including cancer. Nowadays, the need to find new potential therapeutic compounds has raised the worldwide scientific interest to study the marine environment. Specifically, microalgae are considered rich sources of bioactive molecules, such as carotenoids, which are natural isoprenoid pigments with important beneficial effects for health due to their biological activities. Carotenoids are essential nutrients for mammals, but they are unable to synthesize them; instead, a dietary intake of these compounds is required. Carotenoids are classified as carotenes (hydrocarbon carotenoids), such as a- and |3 -carotene, and xanthophylls (oxygenate derivatives) including zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, fucoxanthin, lutein, a- and 3-cryptoxanthin, and canthaxanthin. This review summarizes the present up-to-date knowledge of the anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of microalgal carotenoids both in vitro and in vivo, as well as the latest status of human studies for their potential use in prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer.Universidad de Sevilla 2021/0000019

Comportamiento de los estudiantes de Ciencias Médicas ante la pesquisa activa durante la COVID-19

Introducción: ante la situación epidemiológica existente, los estudiantes de las Ciencias Médicas desempeñan labores de pesquisa activa. Objetivo: describir el comportamiento de los estudiantes de Ciencias Médicas ante la pesquisa activa durante la COVID-19. Material y método: se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal en los meses de marzo a mayo de 2020, en el Policlínico Norte de Ciego de Ávila. Se estudió a los 320 estudiantes de las Ciencias Médicas asignados a la pesquisa del área de salud, que constituyeron el universo de la investigación. Las variables en estudio fueron: fuentes de información sobre COVID-19, conocimientos de la enfermedad, emociones, conductas de los estudiantes. Resultados: las principales fuentes de información de los estudiantes y profesores de Ciencias Médicas sobre la COVID-19 fueron la recibida en la capacitación (100 %), y el asesoramiento por los profesores (100 %). El 100 % de los estudiantes conocían adecuadamente el lugar de origen, los síntomas y las medidas preventivas. En la esfera emocional, el miedo al contagio prevaleció en el 100%, así como las conductas higiénicas sanitarias del uso de la mascarilla y el distanciamiento físico entre los propios estudiantes y con la población.  Conclusiones: esta investigación aportó un conocimiento nuevo sobre el comportamiento de los estudiantes de las Ciencias Médicas ante la pesquisa de la pandemia COVID-19, de elevada letalidad y contagio

Pollination Biology and Adaptive Radiation of Agavaceae, with Special Emphasis on the Genus Agave

Agavaceae are an American family that comprises nine genera and ca. 300 species distributed in arid and semiarid environments, mainly in Mexico. The family is very successful and displays a wide array of ecological, reproductive, and morphological adaptations. Many of its members play important roles as keystone species, because they produce abundant resources during the reproductive season. In this paper we analyze the current knowledge about the pollination ecology of the different genera in the family and the role that pollination systems have played in the ecological and phylogenetic success of the group. After providing an overview of each of the genera in the family, we discuss in detail aspects of the reproductive ecology of species in the genus Agave s.l., which is composed of ca. 208 species and includes subgenera of Agave (Agave and Littaea), Manfreda, Polianthes, and Prochnyanthes. Finally, we describe the results of analyses to test the hypothesis that there has been an adaptive radiation in the genus Agave. Using chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences we estimate the age of the Agavaceae family and the genus Agave to be 12-26 millions of years ago (MYA) and 10 MYA, respectively, and show that mean rates of diversification were higher in the genus Agave than the genus Yucca. The values we report for rates of diversification in Agave s.l. are high when compared to other radiations in plants and animals. We suggest that the desertification of North America, which started ca. 15 MY A was critical in the radiation of agaves and that the generalist pollination system of Agave has been more successful in generating new species than the extreme specialization of Yucca

Chronic treatment with somatostatin analogues in recurrent type 1 gastric neuroendocrine tumors

Background: Type 1 gastric neuroendocrine tumors (GC-1) represent an uncommon subtype of neoplasms. Endoscopic resection has been proposed as the treatment of choice; active surveillance may be performed in those smaller than 1 cm, while gastric surgery may be performed for those with frequent recurrences. The antiproliferative effect of somatostatin analogues (SSA) is well known, and their action on GC-1s has been postulated as a chronic treatment to reduce recurrence. Methods: A two-centered, retrospective, observational study that included nine patients (55.6% women) diagnosed with GC-1, receiving long-term treatment with SSA, with a median follow-up from baseline of 22 months, was undertaken. Endoscopic follow-up, extension study, and analytical values of chromogranin A (Cg A) and gastrin were collected. Results: In total, 88.9% of patients presented partial or complete response. Treatment with SSA was the only independent factor with a trend to prevent tumor recurrence (Odds Ratio 0.054; p = 0.005). A nonsignificant tendency toward a decrease in CgA and gastrin was observed; lack of significance was probably related to concomitant treatment with proton pump inhibitors in some patients. Conclusions: Chronic treatment with SSA is a feasible option for recurrent GC-1s that are difficult to manage using endoscopy or gastrectomy. Randomized clinical trials to provide more scientific evidence are still neede

Resultados de la actividad extracurricular sobre pesquisa activa de COVID-19 en la Universidad Médica avileña

Introduction: active research on COVID-19 carried out by medical science students contributes to the prevention and control of the disease, favors the foundation of its teaching, and the research population becomes an object of study and a resource for learning.Objective: to characterize the development of the extracurricular activity on active research of COVID-19 at Ciego de Avila Medical University.Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on students assigned to the active investigation of COVID-19 at the North University Polyclinic of Ciego de Ávila, during the months from April to June 2020. The universe consisted of 369 students; 95 of them made up the sample, selected by stratified random sampling. Descriptive statistics were used to process the variables.Results: Medicine students (84,1 %) and students from the fourth academic year (43,1 %) predominated. Everyone knew the prevention measures of the disease. In the profesional skills, 100 % of the students pointed out the interrelation with the population in epidemic, questioning the patient and the identification of symptoms; they also referred that the research work contributes to the development of values such as solidarity, humanism, medical ethics and responsibility. Prevention and control was carried out in a population of 35 673 individuals, with eight confirmed cases, 232 contacts, and three travelers.Conclusions: the active investigation of COVID-19 was a useful activity for the profesional and ethical training of the students.Introducción: la pesquisa activa de COVID-19 desarrollada por estudiantes de las ciencias médicas contribuye a la prevención y control de la enfermedad, favorece la cimentación de su enseñanza, y la población pesquisada se convierte en objeto de estudio y recurso para el aprendizaje.Objetivo: caracterizar el desarrollo de la actividad extracurricular sobre pesquisa activa de COVID-19 en la Universidad Médica avileña.Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal, en los estudiantes asignados a la pesquisa activa de COVID-19 en el Policlínico Universitario Norte de Ciego de Ávila, durante los meses de abril a junio de 2020. El universo estuvo constituido por 369 estudiantes; de ellos, 95 conformaron la muestra, seleccionados mediante muestreo aleatorio estratificado. Se utilizó la estadística descriptiva para el procesamiento de las variables.Resultados: predominaron los estudiantes de Medicina (84,1 %), y del cuarto año académico (43,1 %). Las medidas de prevención de la enfermedad eran conocidas por todos. En las habilidades profesionales, 100 % de los educandos señalaron la interrelación con la población en epidemia, interrogar al paciente y la identificación de síntomas; igualmente refirieron que la labor de pesquisa contribuye al desarrollo de valores como la solidaridad, humanismo, ética médica y responsabilidad. La prevención y control se realizó en una población de 35 673 individuos, con ocho casos confirmados, 232 contactos, y tres viajeros.Conclusiones: la pesquisa activa de COVID-19 fue una actividad útil para la formación profesional y ética de los estudiantes

Tenemos cita con el arte: a pilot project of visits and workshops with people affected by Alzheimer's disease in the Prado Museum, the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía Museum and the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Complutense University of Madrid

GIMUPAI is a research group comprising teachers and researchers from the Faculty of Fine Arts (University Complutense of Madrid) and the Department of Social Psychology and Anthropology (Salamanca University) who have been working in art and health projects over the last thirteen years. Recently, we have carried out Tenemos cita con el arte, part of a national research project entitled "Art education in museums and other cultural institutions as a tool for increasing the wellbeing of people affected with Alzheimer" (Ministry of the Economy and Competitiveness-EDU2013-43253-R). The main objective of the program is to make the museum‘s artworks available to people with Alzheimer‘s and their caregivers, at the same time encouraging them to participate in artistic activities and artistic creation through art workshops. Tenemos cita con el arte has been designed as a program of visits of the Prado Museum and the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia Museum. The program also has included participation in workshops on visual arts and artistic creativity in the Faculty of Fine Arts. The program was undertaken between October and December 2015 with a group of 15 participants (Alzheimer‘s patients, caregivers, and other health and social workers)

Clinicopathological correlates in the frontotemporal lobar degeneration-motor neuron disease spectrum

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating motor neuron disease (MND) that shares a common clinical, genetic and pathologic spectrum with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). It is highly heterogeneous in its presentation and features. Up to 50% of patients with MND develop cognitive-behavioural symptoms during the course of the disease, meeting criteria for FTD in 10%-15% of cases. In the absence of a precise biomarker, neuropathology is still a valuable tool to understand disease nosology, reach a definite diagnostic confirmation and help define specific subgroups of patients with common phenotypic, genetic and biomarker profiles. However, few neuropathological series have been published, and the frequency of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) in MND is difficult to estimate. In this work we describe a large clinicopathological series of MND patients, analysing the frequency of concurrent FTLD changes and trying to define specific subgroups of patients based on their clinical, genetic and pathological characteristics. We performed an observational, retrospective, multicentre case study. We included all cases meeting neuropathological criteria for MND from the Neurological Tissue Bank of the FRCB-IDIBAPS-Hospital Clínic Barcelona Biobank between 1994 and 2022, regardless of their last clinical diagnosis. While brain donation is encouraged in all patients, it is performed in very few, and representativeness of the cohort might not be precise for all patients with MND. We retrospectively reviewed clinical and neuropathological data and describe the main clinical, genetic and pathogenic features, comparing neuropathologic groups between MND with and without FTLD changes and aiming to define specific subgroups. We included brain samples from 124 patients, 44 of whom (35.5%) had FTLD neuropathologic features (i.e. FTLD-MND). Pathologic TDP-43 aggregates were present in 93.6% of the cohort and were more extensive (higher Brettschneider stage) in those with concurrent FTLD (P < 0.001). Motor symptom onset was more frequent in the bulbar region in FTLD-MND cases than in those with isolated MND (P = 0.023), with no differences in survival. We observed a better clinicopathological correlation in the MND group than in the FTLD-MND group (93.8% versus 61.4%; P < 0.001). Pathogenic genetic variants were more common in the FTLD-MND group, especially C9orf72. We describe a frequency of FTLD of 35.5% in our series of neuropathologically confirmed cases of MND. The FTLD-MND spectrum is highly heterogeneous in all aspects, especially in patients with FTLD, in whom it is particularly difficult to define specific subgroups. In the absence of definite biomarkers, neuropathology remains a valuable tool for a definite diagnosis, increasing our knowledge in disease nosology