Therapeutic drug monitoring of itraconazole and the relevance of pharmacokinetic interactions

ABSTRACTA review of the pharmacological aspects of greatest relevance in relation to the monitoring of itraconazole serum levels is presented in this article. The main causes of pharmacokinetic variability, e.g., poor aqueous solubility, the presystemic first-pass effect with the involvement of transporters such as P-glycoprotein, the high extent of metabolism mediated by the CYP450 system and a high probability of pharmacological interactions, are documented and discussed. The pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic criteria used to optimise antibiotic therapy, as well as their application to antifungal drugs, are also discussed. Data concerning the breakpoints established for the minimum serum concentrations of itraconazole are included, and the most relevant justifications for drug monitoring are cited

A Mathematical Model to Study the Meningococcal Meningitis

AbstractThe main goal of this work is to introduce a novel mathematical model to study the spreading of meningococcal meningitis. Specifically, it is a discrete mathematical model based on cellular automata where the population is divided in five classes: sus- ceptible, asymptomatic infected, infected with symptoms, carriers, recovered and died. It catches the individual characteristics of people in order to give a prediction of both the individual behavior, and whole evolution of population

Characterization fo the molecular mechanism of action of a new inhibitor of the complex cyclin-dependent kinase 2-cyclin A

Comunicaciones a congreso

A methodological proposal and tool support for the HL7 standards compliance in the development of health information systems

Health information systems are increasingly complex, and their development is presented as a challenge for software development companies offering quality, maintainable and interoperable products. HL7 (Health level 7) International, an international non-profit organization, defines and maintains standards related to health information systems. However, the modelling languages proposed by HL7 are far removed from standard languages and widely known by software engineers. In these lines, NDT is a software development methodology that has a support tool called NDT-Suite and is based, on the one hand, on the paradigm of model-driven engineering and, on the other hand, in UML that is a widely recognized standard language. This paper proposes an extension of the NDT methodology called MoDHE (Model Driven Health Engineering) to offer software engineers a methodology capable of modelling health information systems conforming to HL7 using UML domain models

A influência da atividade física nos níveis de stress e ansiedade

Resumen: Introducción: El estrés y la ansiedad son dos de los problemas de salud más comunes en la sociedad actual. Es por ello que se trata de realizar intervenciones que ayuden a reducir los niveles de estos trastornos para no actuar solamente a través de fármacos y de la psicología. La actividad física y el ejercicio, pueden ser estas intervenciones que ayuden a disminuir estas problemáticas. Aunque, es importante destacar que, además de esto es importante llevar a cabo un estilo de vida saludable, combinando una buena alimentación y la práctica de actividad física, ya que esto puede ayudar en gran manera a evitar el sedentarismo. Objetivos: el principal objetivo de este estudio es realizar una revisión en la literatura acerca de la influencia que tiene la práctica de actividad física en los niveles de estrés y ansiedad, así como sus múltiples beneficios. Resultados y discusión: A través de esta pequeña revisión literaria se ha podido observar que según diversos estudios puede existir una relación entre la práctica de actividad física, el estrés y la ansiedad. Conclusiones: El estrés y la ansiedad son dos de las enfermedades que más afectan a la salud de las personas en la actualidad. Una alternativa perfecta es la práctica de actividad física, pues a través de esta se puede liberar energía, y tranquilizarse, dadas las propiedades beneficiosas que tiene el ejercicio, incluso para otras enfermedades.Abstract: Introduction: Stress and anxiety are two of the most common health problems in today's society. This is why it is necessary to carry out interventions that help to reduce the levels of these disorders and not only act through pharmaceuticals and psychology. Physical activity and exercise can be interventions that help to reduce these problems. However, it is important to emphasise that, in addition to this, it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle, combining a good diet and physical activity, as this can greatly help to avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Aim: the main objective of this study is to review the literature on the influence of physical activity on stress and anxiety levels, as well as its multiple benefits. Results & discussion: Through this small literature review it has been observed that according to several studies there may be a relationship between physical activity, stress and anxiety. Conclusions: Stress and anxiety are two of the diseases that most affect people's health today. A perfect alternative is the practice of physical activity, which can release energy and calm down, given the beneficial properties of exercise, even for other illnesses.Resumo: Introdução: O stress e a ansiedade são dois dos problemas de saúde mais comuns na sociedade atual. Por isso, é necessário realizar intervenções que ajudem a reduzir os níveis destes distúrbios e não atuar apenas através de medicamentos e da psicologia. A atividade física e o exercício podem ser intervenções que ajudam a reduzir estes problemas. No entanto, é importante salientar que, para além disso, é importante levar um estilo de vida saudável, combinando uma boa alimentação e atividade física, pois isso pode ajudar muito a evitar um estilo de vida sedentário. Objectivos: O principal objetivo deste estudo é rever a literatura sobre a influência da atividade física nos níveis de stress e ansiedade, bem como os seus múltiplos benefícios. Resultados e Discussão: Através desta pequena revisão da literatura, observou-se que, de acordo com vários estudos, pode existir uma relação entre a atividade física, o stress e a ansiedade. Conclusão: O stress e a ansiedade são duas das doenças que mais afectam a saúde das pessoas atualmente. Uma alternativa perfeita é a prática de atividade física, que pode libertar energia e acalmar, dadas as propriedades benéficas do exercício, mesmo para outras doenças

A tough act to follow: collagen hydrogel modifications to improve mechanical and growth factor loading capabilities

[EN] Collagen hydrogels are among the most well-studied platforms for drug delivery and in situ tissue engineering, thanks to their low cost, low immunogenicity, versatility, biocompatibility, and similarity to the natural extracellular matrix (ECM). Despite collagen being largely responsible for the tensile properties of native connective tissues, collagen hydrogels have relatively low mechanical properties in the absence of covalent cross-linking. This is particularly problematic when attempting to regenerate stiffer and stronger native tissues such as bone. Furthermore, in contrast to hydrogels based on ECM proteins such as fibronectin, collagen hydrogels do not have any growth factor (GF)-specific binding sites and often cannot sequester physiological (small) amounts of the protein. GF binding and in situ presentation are properties that can aid significantly in the tissue regeneration process by dictating cell fate without causing adverse effects such as malignant tumorigenic tissue growth. To alleviate these issues, researchers have developed several strategies to increase the mechanical properties of collagen hydrogels using physical or chemical modifications. This can expand the applicability of collagen hydrogels to tissues subject to a continuous load. GF delivery has also been explored, mathematically and experimentally, through the development of direct loading, chemical cross-linking, electrostatic interaction, and other carrier systems. This comprehensive article explores the ways in which these parameters, mechanical properties and GF delivery, have been optimized in collagen hydrogel systems and examines their in vitro or in vivo biological effect. This article can, therefore, be a useful tool to streamline future studies in the field, by pointing researchers into the appropriate direction according to their collagen hydrogel design requirements.This work was supported by Medical Research Scotland, EPSRC (through a programme grant EP/P001114/1) and a programme of research funded by the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation. M.S.S. acknowledges support from a grant from the UK Regenerative Medicine Platform 'Acellular/Smart Materials - 3D Architecture' (MR/R015651/1). The graphical abstract was created using BioRender.com.Sarrigiannidis, S.; Rey, JM.; Dobre, O..; González-García, C.; Dalby, M.; Salmerón Sánchez, M. (2021). A tough act to follow: collagen hydrogel modifications to improve mechanical and growth factor loading capabilities. Materials Today Bio. 10(1):1-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2021.10009812210

El uso del portafolio para la enseñanza en Enfermería. Experiencia de tres cursos académicos

El Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES) parece configurarse como un diseño de cambio estratégico para crear un espacio común de reconocimiento de la enseñanza-aprendizaje que profesores y alumnos realizan para dar respuestas profesionales a las demandas y necesidades sociales. Así, surgen nuevas propuestas y numerosos escenarios para reflexionar sobre esa tarea y numerosas oportunidades para la innovación pedagógica. Consecuentemente diseñamos un plan de innovación educativa experimental que hemos desarrollado con alumnos de Enfermería durante los tres últimos cursos académicos

Brote de eritema infeccioso en un centro de salud urbano

ObjetivosAnalizar las características clínicas y serológicas de un brote de eritema infeccioso en pacientes que acudieron a las 2 consultas de pediatría del Centro de Salud de Soria Norte.DiseñoEstudio descriptivo, transversal.EmplazamientoConsultas de pediatría del Centro de Salud de Soria Norte.PacientesUna vez sospechado el brote, se estudiaron niños con clínica sugestiva de eritema infeccioso que acudieron sucesivamente a las 2 consultas de pediatría de Soria Norte durante los meses de abril a agosto de 1998 y consintieron en la práctica de analítica.IntervencionesSe realizó registro de síntomas clínicos, serología, hemograma y evolución de 25 pacientes.ResultadosSe estudiaron 25 pacientes del total de casos, confirmando nuestra sospecha diagnóstica en un 84% de los casos. No se observaron diferencias en ambos sexos, con una edad media de 6,1 años, y DE, 2,015. El signo clínico más constante fue el exantema en mejillas, presente en un 100% de los casos confirmados, seguido de exantema en tronco y extremidades en un 57,1%, adenopatías en un 9,5% y fiebre en un 4,7%. En ningún caso se objetivaron complicaciones.ConclusionesLos resultados de este trabajo permiten confirmar la existencia de un brote de eritema infeccioso en nuestro medio. Consideramos útil la confirmación serológica para constatar la presencia de un brote y poder realizar un enfoque terapéutico (frente a complicaciones posibles) y preventivo adecuado. Destacamos el carácter, en general, benigno de la enfermedad.ObjectivesTo analyse the clinical and serological characteristics of an outbreak of infectious erythema in patients attending the two paediatrics clinics at the Soria Norte Health Centre.DesignCross-sectional, descriptive study.SettingPaediatrics clinics of the Soria Norte Health Centre.PatientsOnce the outbreak was suspected, the study was conducted on children with a clinical picture suggesting infectious erythema who attended successively two Soria Norte paediatrics clinics between April and August 1998 and who consented to the analyses.InterventionsThe clinical symptoms, serology, haemogram and evolution of 25 patients were recorded.Results25 patients of the total were studied and diagnostic suspicion was confirmed in 84% of the cases. There were no differences between sexes, with an average age of 6.1, SD 2.015. The most constant clinical sign was exanthem on the cheeks, present in 100% of the cases confirmed, followed by 57% exanthem on the trunk and limbs, 9.5% adenopathies and 4.7% temperature. No complications were found in any case.ConclusionsThe results of this study confirm the existence of an outbreak of infectious erythema in our area. Serological confirmation of an outbreak is useful and can lay the basis for a proper therapeutic and preventive focus (against possible complications). We highlight the generally benign nature of the disease

National Strategy for River Restoration in Spain: A multidisciplinary approach.

A National Strategy for River Restoration is being implemented by the Spanish Ministry of Environmental Affairs, with the scientific assistance of the Universidad Politécnica of Madrid. Theoretical concepts from Fluvial Geomorphology and Ecology, together with Water Framework Directive principles and objectives, have been the basis for this Strategy, whose the main objective is to improve the ecological status of rivers, recovering their natural variability and dynamics

La familia occidental en el siglo XXI: una perspectiva comparada

El estudio riguroso de la institución familiar constituye una grave omisión epistemológica de la disciplina de la Educación Comparada. Los fenómenos de la globalización y el postmodernismo están impactando de lleno en la naturaleza y los rasgos de la familia, impregnándola de valores economicistas y laicistas, y promoviendo la aceptación de una miríada de modelos familiares de nuevo cuño. Pese a la atomización de la unidad familiar tradicional, esta institución sigue desempeñando variadas y relevantes funciones sociales en el siglo XXI. La embestida uniformizadora de la globalización no ha impedido el desarrollo de políticas familiares mundiales notablemente diversas y heterogéneas