Cognitive stimulation program in mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial

Non-pharmacological cognitive interventions in mild cognitive impairment have demonstrated promising results in preventing or delaying cognitive impairment and functional disability. Cognitive stimulation seems to improve and maintain cognitive and social activity. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a cognitive stimulation program in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at the cognitive level on activities of daily living (ADLs), and levels of anxiety and depression. Methods: A randomized controlled single-blind trial involving 122 non-institutionalized elderly with a MEC-35 score of 24-27 was conducted. The intervention group (n=54) received the intervention (10-week cognitive stimulation program) and was compared with a control group (n=68) that received no intervention. Follow-up assessments were conducted post-test and at 6 months post-test. The primary outcome was cognitive function determined by changes in scores on the Spanish version (MEC-35) of the Mini-Mental State Examination, while the secondary outcomes were measured by the Barthel Index, Lawton and Brody Scale, Goldberg Questionnaire (anxiety sub-scale) and the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale (15-item version). Results: The intervention group showed a significant improvement in cognitive function at both timepoints, post-test and 6-month follow-up. The Barthel Index was higher in the intervention group, but only on the post-test analysis. The intervention did not improve the performance of instrumental ADLs or depression or anxiety levels. Conclusion: The findings showed cognitive improvements in an elderly population with MCI in the short and medium-term and improved basic ADLs in the short term

Job demands may determine cognitive and physical aging after retirement

During adulthood, we spend most of our time and efforts at work. However, the impact of employment in aging is poorly explored. Our study addressed how job demands can affect aging after retirement. We have developed a descriptive observational study carried out in 367 older adults with a mean age of 73.9 years (66.5% women and 33.5% men), measuring cognition and functional status. Our results demonstrate that older adults who had high mental demands in their jobs, show better scores in cognition. However, they show poor functional development of basic and instrumental activities of daily life (p<.05). In contrast, former workers who had high physical demands, display lower scores in cognition and lower functional performance in instrumental activities (p<.05). Work life activities contribute to cognitive and physical decline after retirement. Therefore, healthy aging should include interventions that consider the job influence on the age impairment. © The Author(s) 2022

Assessing health science students’ gaming experience: a cross-sectional study

Digital gamification applied to university students enrolled in health-related degrees is considered an innovative and beneficial tool that complements traditional teaching.ObjectivesTo analyze the enjoyment experience obtained by university students in the Faculty of Health Sciences and to know the gender differences after participating in a digital game.DesignCross-sectional descriptive study.ParticipantsA total of 156 university students from the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza.MethodsThe activity of a digital game took place in the academic year 2021–2022 and was carried out as a teaching innovation project with the final approval of the University of Zaragoza. The tools used were the Spanish version of the Gameful Experience Scale and a self-administered questionnaire on satisfaction and suitability reported by the activity.ResultsA total of 156 students participated with an age of 21.2 ± 6.2 years. The highest score is the enjoyment dimension (4 ± 0.7), and the lowest score is the negative affect dimension (1.5 ± 0.9). Cronbach’s alpha for the whole Gameful Experience Scale was 0.95. There were significant differences in three dimensions of the Gameful Experience Scale: male students had more enjoyment than female students (p = 0.05), enjoyed a greater sense of domination (p = 0.01), and had fewer negative effects (p = 0.0). In the highest corresponding positions it was used for other topics such as learning (m 4.4; SD 0.5), motivation to learn (m 4.1; SD 0.8) or helping memorize concepts (m 4.4).4; SD 0.5).ConclusionGender influences student satisfaction after carrying out a gamification activity, especially after a digital game. The dimensions in which gender differences were found were fun, absence of negative effects, and dominance

Assessing health science students’ gaming experience: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDigital gamification applied to university students enrolled in health-related degrees is considered an innovative and beneficial tool that complements traditional teaching.ObjectivesTo analyze the enjoyment experience obtained by university students in the Faculty of Health Sciences and to know the gender differences after participating in a digital game.DesignCross-sectional descriptive study.ParticipantsA total of 156 university students from the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza.MethodsThe activity of a digital game took place in the academic year 2021–2022 and was carried out as a teaching innovation project with the final approval of the University of Zaragoza. The tools used were the Spanish version of the Gameful Experience Scale and a self-administered questionnaire on satisfaction and suitability reported by the activity.ResultsA total of 156 students participated with an age of 21.2 ± 6.2 years. The highest score is the enjoyment dimension (4 ± 0.7), and the lowest score is the negative affect dimension (1.5 ± 0.9). Cronbach’s alpha for the whole Gameful Experience Scale was 0.95. There were significant differences in three dimensions of the Gameful Experience Scale: male students had more enjoyment than female students (p = 0.05), enjoyed a greater sense of domination (p = 0.01), and had fewer negative effects (p = 0.0). In the highest corresponding positions it was used for other topics such as learning (m 4.4; SD 0.5), motivation to learn (m 4.1; SD 0.8) or helping memorize concepts (m 4.4).4; SD 0.5).ConclusionGender influences student satisfaction after carrying out a gamification activity, especially after a digital game. The dimensions in which gender differences were found were fun, absence of negative effects, and dominance

Predictive Power of the "Trigger Tool" for the detection of adverse events in general surgery: a multicenter observational validation study

Background In spite of the global implementation of standardized surgical safety checklists and evidence-based practices, general surgery remains associated with a high residual risk of preventable perioperative complications and adverse events. This study was designed to validate the hypothesis that a new “Trigger Tool” represents a sensitive predictor of adverse events in general surgery. Methods An observational multicenter validation study was performed among 31 hospitals in Spain. The previously described “Trigger Tool” based on 40 specific triggers was applied to validate the predictive power of predicting adverse events in the perioperative care of surgical patients. A prediction model was used by means of a binary logistic regression analysis. Results The prevalence of adverse events among a total of 1,132 surgical cases included in this study was 31.53%. The “Trigger Tool” had a sensitivity and specificity of 86.27% and 79.55% respectively for predicting these adverse events. A total of 12 selected triggers of overall 40 triggers were identified for optimizing the predictive power of the “Trigger Tool”. Conclusions The “Trigger Tool” has a high predictive capacity for predicting adverse events in surgical procedures. We recommend a revision of the original 40 triggers to 12 selected triggers to optimize the predictive power of this tool, which will have to be validated in future studies

Argentina, 200 años de independencia (1816-2016): Miradas desde San Juan en claves teórica, histórico-social y biográfica

La conmemoración del Bicentenario de la Independencia celebrada en Tucumán hacia 1816 reabre las puertas de nuestra historia y, en concomitancia, ofrece la posibilidad de repensarnos como sociedad. Nos invita a mirar el proceso independentista que tuvo lugar en la llamada década revolucionaria del Siglo XIX pero desde nuestros días, mirando las luchas, las conquistas, los sentidos y los sinsentidos que han atravesado y conmovido nuestra patria transcurridos ya 200 años desde aquellos acontecimientos. La presente obra responde, justamente, a una concepción amplia de los procesos histórico-sociales: concepción acentuadamente interdisciplinaria. Así, los títulos que se compilan en la publicación son trabajos especialmente elaborados por un grupo de cientistas sociales sanjuaninos, de generaciones y formaciones disciplinares diversas pero complementarias. Se reúnen aquí aportes de la Sociología; la Ciencia Política; la Economía; el Derecho; las Ciencias de la Comunicación; la Filología; la Geografía y por supuesto la Historia, todo englobado e imbricado según lo prescribe el complejo entramado de relaciones y procesos sociales regionales, nacionales y locales.Fil: Algañaraz Soria, Victor Hugo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Instituto de Investigaciones Socioeconómicas; ArgentinaFil: González, Mariana Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Mendoza, Edgardo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Aballay Meglioli, Gladys Nilda. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Ayza, Maria Cristina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Departamento de Sociología; ArgentinaFil: Balmaceda Ojeda, María Agustina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes; ArgentinaFil: Cabañes Lobos, Matías Darío. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes; ArgentinaFil: Carelli, Alejandro Jose Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Departamento de Sociología; ArgentinaFil: Castilla, María Josefina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Instituto de Investigaciones Socioeconómicas; ArgentinaFil: de Cara, Graceila Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Departamento de Sociología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Instituto de Investigaciones Socioeconómicas; ArgentinaFil: de la Vega, Clara Isabel. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Departamento de Sociología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Instituto de Investigaciones Socioeconómicas; ArgentinaFil: Gómez, Graciela. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes. Departamento de Historia; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Nancy E.. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Instituto de Investigaciones Socioeconómicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Departamento de Sociología; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Mariana. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Pesca.; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Guardia, Enrique A.. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes. Instituto de Geografía Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Henriquez, María Griselda. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Instituto de Investigaciones Socioeconómicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Miranda, Gladys Rosa. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes. Departamento de Historia; ArgentinaFil: Ozan, Celina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Peralta, Felipe. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Pozzi, Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Instituto de Investigaciones Socioeconómicas; ArgentinaFil: Riverós de Corradi, Mónica. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Instituto de Investigaciones Socioeconómicas; ArgentinaFil: Storni, Silvia Susana. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Instituto de Investigaciones Socioeconómicas; Argentin

International cooperation for remote laboratory use

Experimenting is fundamental to the training process of all scientists andengineers. While experiments have been traditionally done inside laboratories, theemergence of Information and Communication Technologies added two alternatives accessible anytime, anywhere. These two alternatives are known asvirtual and remote laboratories and are sometimes indistinguishably referred asonline laboratories. Similarly to other instructional technologies, virtual and remote laboratories require some effort from teachers in integrating them into curricula, taking into consideration several factors that affect their adoption (i.e., cost) and their educational effectiveness (i.e., benefit). This chapter analyzes these two dimensions and sustains the case where only through international cooperation it is possible to serve the large number of teachers and students involved in engineering education. It presents an example in the area of electrical and electronics engineering, based on a remote laboratory named Virtual Instruments System in Reality, and it then describes how a number of European and Latin American institutions have been cooperating under the scope of an Erasmus+ project, for spreading its use in Brazil and Argentina.Fil: Alves, Gustavo R.. Instituto Politécnico Do Porto; PortugalFil: Fidalgo, André V.. Instituto Politécnico Do Porto; PortugalFil: Marques, María A.. Instituto Politécnico Do Porto; PortugalFil: Viegas, María Celeste. Instituto Politécnico Do Porto; PortugalFil: Felgueiras, Manuel C.. Instituto Politécnico Do Porto; PortugalFil: Pozzo, María Isabel Rita. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto Rosario de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Educación. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto Rosario de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Educación; ArgentinaFil: Schlichting, Luis C.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Ferreira, Golberi. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: De Bona, Daniel D.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Pacheco, Fernando S.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: da Silva, Juarez B.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Alves, João B.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Biléssimo, Simone. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Pavani, Ana M.. Pontifícia Universidade Católica Do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Lima, Delberis A.. Pontifícia Universidade Católica Do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Temporão, Guilherme. Pontifícia Universidade Católica Do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Marchisio, Susana Teresa. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Ingeniería y Agrimensura; ArgentinaFil: Concari, Sonia Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Ingeniería y Agrimensura; ArgentinaFil: Lerro, Federico. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Ingeniería y Agrimensura; ArgentinaFil: Saez de Arregui, Gastón César. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Ingeniería y Agrimensura; ArgentinaFil: Merendino, Claudio. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Ingeniería y Agrimensura; ArgentinaFil: Plano, Miguel Angel Ramon. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Ingeniería y Agrimensura; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Ruben Angel. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero; ArgentinaFil: Paz, Héctor R.. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero; ArgentinaFil: Soria, Mario F.. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Mario José. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero; ArgentinaFil: De Almeida, Nival N.. Abenge Associação Brasileira de Educação Em Engenharia; BrasilFil: Vanderli, F. de Oliveira. Abenge Associação Brasileira de Educação Em Engenharia; BrasilFil: Dobboleta, Elsa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto Rosario de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Educación. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto Rosario de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Educación; ArgentinaFil: Beltramo, Brenda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto Rosario de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Educación. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto Rosario de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Educación; Argentin

Impact of antibiotic resistance on outcomes of neutropenic cancer patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia (IRONIC study): study protocol of a retrospective multicentre international study

WOS: 000471192800144PubMed ID: 31129580Introduction Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) has historically been one of the major causes of severe sepsis and death among neutropenic cancer patients. There has been a recent increase of multidrug-resistant PA (MDRPA) isolates that may determine a worse prognosis, particularly in immunosuppressed patients. The aim of this study is to establish the impact of antibiotic resistance on the outcome of neutropenic onco-haematological patients with PA bacteraemia, and to identify the risk factors for MDRPA bacteraemia and mortality. Methods and analysis This is a retrospective, observational, multicentre, international study. All episodes of PA bacteraemia occurring in neutropenic onco-haematological patients followed up at the participating centres from 1 January 2006 to 31 May 2018 will be retrospectively reviewed. The primary end point will be overall case-fatality rate within 30 days of onset of PA bacteraemia. The secondary end points will be to describe the following: the incidence and risk factors for multidrug-resistant and extremely drug-resistant PA bacteraemia (by comparing the episodes due to susceptible PA with those produced by MDRPA), the efficacy of ceftolozane/tazobactam, the rates of persistent bacteraemia and bacteraemia relapse and the risk factors for very early (48 hours), early (7 days) and overall (30 days) case-fatality rates. Ethics and dissemination The Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Bellvitge University Hospital approved the protocol of the study at the primary site. To protect personal privacy, identifying information of each patient in the electronic database will be encrypted. The processing of the patients' personal data collected in the study will comply with the Spanish Data Protection Act of 1998 and with the European Directive on the privacy of data. All data collected, stored and processed will be anonymised. Results will be reported at conferences and in peer-reviewed publications.Plan Nacional de I+ D+ i 2013-2016; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdireccion General de Redes y Centros de Investigacion Cooperativa, Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases [REIPI RD16/0016/0001]; European Development Regional Fund "A way to achieve Europe", Operative Programme Intelligent Growth 2014-2020This study was supported by Plan Nacional de I+ D+ i 2013-2016 and Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdireccion General de Redes y Centros de Investigacion Cooperativa, Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD16/0016/0001) and co-financed by European Development Regional Fund "A way to achieve Europe", Operative Programme Intelligent Growth 2014-2020