Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and adherence to Mediterranean diet in an adult population: the Mediterranean diet index as a pollution level index

Background Research related to sustainable diets is is highly relevant to provide better understanding of the impact of dietary intake on the health and the environment. Aim To assess the association between the adherence to an energy-restricted Mediterranean diet and the amount of CO2 emitted in an older adult population. Design and population Using a cross-sectional design, the association between the adherence to an energy-reduced Mediterranean Diet (erMedDiet) score and dietary CO2 emissions in 6646 participants was assessed. Methods Food intake and adherence to the erMedDiet was assessed using validated food frequency questionnaire and 17-item Mediterranean questionnaire. Sociodemographic characteristics were documented. Environmental impact was calculated through greenhouse gas emissions estimations, specifically CO2 emissions of each participant diet per day, using a European database. Participants were distributed in quartiles according to their estimated CO2 emissions expressed in kg/day: Q1 (= 2.80 kg CO2). Results More men than women induced higher dietary levels of CO2 emissions. Participants reporting higher consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole cereals, preferring white meat, and having less consumption of red meat were mostly emitting less kg of CO2 through diet. Participants with higher adherence to the Mediterranean Diet showed lower odds for dietary CO2 emissions: Q2 (OR 0.87; 95%CI: 0.76-1.00), Q3 (OR 0.69; 95%CI: 0.69-0.79) and Q4 (OR 0.48; 95%CI: 0.42-0.55) vs Q1 (reference). Conclusions The Mediterranean diet can be environmentally protective since the higher the adherence to the Mediterranean diet, the lower total dietary CO2 emissions. Mediterranean Diet index may be used as a pollution level index

Integrative development of a short screening questionnaire of highly processed food consumption (sQ-HPF)

Background: Recent lifestyle changes include increased consumption of highly processed foods (HPF), which has been associated with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, nutritional information relies on the estimation of HPF consumption from food-frequency questionnaires (FFQ) that are not explicitly developed for this purpose. We aimed to develop a short screening questionnaire of HPF consumption (sQ-HPF) that integrates criteria from the existing food classification systems. Methods: Data from 4400 participants (48.1% female and 51.9% male, 64.9 +/- 4.9 years) of the Spanish PREDIMED-Plus (PREvention with MEDiterranean DIet) trial were used for this analysis. Items from the FFQ were classified according to four main food processing-based classification systems (NOVA, IARC, IFIC and UNC). Participants were classified into tertiles of HPF consumption according to each system. Using binomial logistic regression, food groups associated with agreement in the highest tertile for at least two classification systems were chosen as items for the questionnaire. ROC analysis was used to determine cut-off points for the frequency of consumption of each item, from which a score was calculated. Internal consistency of the questionnaire was assessed through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Cronbach's analysis, and agreement with the four classifications was assessed with weighted kappa coefficients. Results: Regression analysis identified 14 food groups (items) associated with high HPF consumption for at least two classification systems. EFA showed that items were representative contributors of a single underlying factor, the HPF dietary pattern (factor loadings around 0.2). We constructed a questionnaire asking about the frequency of consumption of those items. The threshold frequency of consumption was selected using ROC analysis. Comparison of the four classification systems and the sQ-HPF showed a fair to high agreement. Significant changes in lifestyle characteristics were detected across tertiles of the sQ-HPF score. Longitudinal changes in HPF consumption were also detected by the sQ-HPF, concordantly with existing classification systems. Conclusions: We developed a practical tool to measure HPF consumption, the sQ-HPF. This may be a valuable instrument to study its relationship with NCDs

Desired weight loss and its association with health, health behaviors and perceptions in an adult population with weight excess: One-year follow-up

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) worsens quality of life and increases mortality. Dissatisfaction with weight in patients with MetS may modify the effect of lifestyle interventions to achieve changes in health-related behaviors. Objective: To assess 1-year changes in cardiovascular risk scores, self-perceived general health and health-related behaviors according to observed changes in desired weight loss during the first year of intervention in a large cardiovascular prevention trial. Design: Prospective analysis of the PREDIMED-PLUS trial, including 5,499 adults (55-75 years old) with overweight or obesity at baseline. Methods: The desired weight loss was the difference between ideal and measured weight. Tertiles of change in desired weight loss (1 year vs. baseline) were defined by the following cut-off points: >= 0.0 kg (T1, n = 1,638); 0.0 to -4.0 kg (T2, n = 1,903); <=-4.0 kg (T3, n = 1,958). A food frequency questionnaire assessed diet and the Minnesota-REGICOR questionnaire assessed physical activity. The Framingham equation assessed cardiovascular risks. The changes in the severity of MetS were also assessed. The Beck Depression Inventory assessed depressive symptoms and the SF-36 assessed health-related quality of life. Data were analyzed using general linear models. Results: BMI decreased at T2 and T3 (T1: 0.3, T2: -0.7, T3: -1.9). The most significant improvement in diet quality was observed at T3. Cardiovascular risk decreased at T2 and T3. Mean reductions in MetS severity score were: -0.02 at T1, -0.39 at T2 and -0.78 at T3. The perception of physical health increases in successive tertiles. Conclusions: In older adults with MetS, more ambitious desired weight loss goals were associated with improvements in diet, cardiovascular health and perceived physical health during the first year of a healthy lifestyle intervention programme. Weight dissatisfaction needs to be considered by health professionals

Mediterranean, DASH, and MIND Dietary Patterns and Cognitive Function: The 2-Year Longitudinal Changes in an Older Spanish Cohort

Background and Aims: Plant-forward dietary patterns have been associated with cardiometabolic health benefits, which, in turn, have been related to cognitive performance with inconsistent findings. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between baseline adherence to three a priori dietary patterns (Mediterranean, DASH, and MIND diets) with 2-year changes in cognitive performance in older adults with overweight or obesity and high cardiovascular disease risk. Methods: A prospective cohort analysis was conducted within the PREDIMED-Plus trial, involving 6,647 men and women aged 55-75 years with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome. Using a validated, semiquantitative 143-item food frequency questionnaire completed at baseline, the dietary pattern adherence scores were calculated. An extensive neuropsychological test battery was administered at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were used to assess associations between 2-year changes in cognitive function z-scores across tertiles of baseline adherence to the a priori dietary patterns. Results: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet at baseline was associated with 2-year changes in the general cognitive screening Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE, β: 0.070; 95% CI: 0.014, 0.175, P-trend = 0.011), and two executive function-related assessments: the Trail Making Tests Part A (TMT-A, β: −0.054; 95% CI: −0.110, − 0.002, P-trend = 0.047) and Part B (TMT-B, β: −0.079; 95% CI: −0.134, −0.024, P-trend = 0.004). Adherence to the MIND diet was associated with the backward recall Digit Span Test assessment of working memory (DST-B, β: 0.058; 95% CI: 0.002, 0.114, P-trend = 0.045). However, higher adherence to the DASH dietary pattern was not associated with better cognitive function over a period of 2 years. Conclusion: In older Spanish individuals with overweight or obesity and at high cardiovascular disease risk, higher baseline adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern may be associated with better cognitive performance than lower adherence over a period of 2 years

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals &lt;1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Didáctica y evaluación de competencias en el espacio de educación superior

En la exposición de este trabajo se pretende promover el ejercicio de una metodología de aprendizaje activa que fomente la comunicación entre el profesor y estudiante, relación posible, a pesar de la masificación en muchos casos de nuestras aulas. Evidenciar que la presencia del profesor universitario cobra importancia en el sentido de que es alguien capaz de dirigir, orientar, aconsejar a los estudiantes, sin olvidar que es en la Universidad donde se tratan de poner las bases para adquirir siempre conocimientos –aprender a pensar, formarse un criterio-. Debemos facilitar una redefinición del papel del profesor para que este logre adaptarse a los cambiantes conceptos educativos y desarrollar técnicas que la vida profesional hoy exige. La enseñanza de cualquier materia siempre tiene como objeto que el alumno aprenda los conocimientos que en ella se le enseñan. Para ello, es necesario que profesor y alumnos sean sujetos activos, es decir, que ambos intervengan correlativamente o de forma paralela. El profesor es el encargado de buscar centros de posible interés en el desarrollo de su exposición oral para que el alumno participe primero en el seguimiento de la clase teórica y posteriormente le induzca a interrogarse y estimularse en respuestas relacionadas con el tema.SIN FINANCIACIÓNNo data 2012UE

Evaluation of a Physical Activity Programme in Elderly Noninstitutionalised Adults

La actividad física es uno de los hábitos clave que influyen en el envejecimiento saludable, según la OMS. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto en la esfera funcional de un programa de actividad física realizado en el contexto de un taller de envejecimiento activo. Se realizó un estudio de diseño de preintervención y postintervención en un solo grupo. Se incluyeron 54 adultos sanos, no institucionalizados, de edad igual o mayor a 60 años. El programa de actividad física consistió en 90 sesiones grupales bisemanales, de 45-60 minutos de duración, realizadas durante 45 semanas. Los participantes realizaron estiramientos y ejercicios aeróbicos y de tonificación muscular de intensidad progresiva a lo largo del programa. Valoramos la escala de Tinetti, la prueba cronometrada de levantarse y andar (Timed Up and Go Test, TUG) y el Senior Fitness Test (SFT) en las semanas 0 y 45 del programa. En la semana 45, objetivamos una mejoría significativa en la movilidad, de acuerdo con el TUG, y en la fuerza de los miembros inferiores, evaluada mediante el SFT. Adicionalmente, observamos un mantenimiento en la capacidad de la marcha y el equilibrio, determinados por la escala de Tinetti, y la fuerza de los miembros superiores, la resistencia aeróbica y la flexibilidad de los trenes superior e inferior, según el SFT. Los resultados del estudio sugirieron que los ejercicios de actividad física incluidos en nuestro programa podrían producir una desaceleración en la pérdida de los parámetros de la esfera funcional de los adultos mayores de 60 años.Physical activity is one of the key habits that influence healthy ageing, according to WHO. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a physical activity programme conducted in the context of an active ageing workshop on the functional sphere. The study had a single-group pre- and post-intervention design. It included 54 healthy, non-institutionalised adults aged 60 or over. The physical activity programme consisted of 90 twice-weekly group sessions lasting 45-60 minutes over 45 weeks. The participants did stretches and aerobic and muscle-toning exercises rising gradually in intensity throughout the programme. They were assessed with the Tinetti scale, the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) and the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) at weeks 0 and 45 of the programme. At week 45, we found a significant improvement in mobility according to the TUG and in lower-limb strength evaluated by the SFT. Additionally, we found that gait and balance capacity, determined by the Tinetti scale, remained the same, as did upper-limb strength, aerobic endurance and upper and lower body flexibility, according to the SFT. The study results suggested that the physical activity exercises included in our programme may slow down the loss of functional sphere parameters in adults aged 60 or over.Sin financiaciónNo data JCR 20210.402 Q1 SJR 20211,50 C1 IDR 2021UE

Programa de reminiscencia en personas mayores con deterioro cognitivo

El estudio del deterioro cognitivo (DC) en personas mayores es un tema de gran interés para la sociedad actual. Este interés se debe a que dicho declive se encuentra en un punto intermedio entre el envejecimiento normal en personas mayores y una fase inicial de demencia (Pesquera, 2023). Siguiendo esta línea, Díaz y Sosa (2010) han señalado que el deterioro cognitivo leve (DCL) se sitúa en un punto intermedio entre el funcionamiento cognitivo normal y la demencia, lo que implica una disminución cognitiva, pero que no llega a impedir la funcionalidad del individuo. No obstante, en la fase leve de la demencia, se observan alteraciones en las capacidades intelectuales que pueden tener diversas consecuencias sociales y laborales para el sujeto. Por ello, es crucial tanto la detección temprana como el tratamiento oportuno de la demencia, con el fin de retrasar el deterioro provocado por esta enfermedad y preservar la independencia y autonomía del paciente en su vida diaria.Los objetivos generales son: diseñar y evaluar el efecto del Programa de Reminiscencia sobre las capacidades cognitivas y emocionales en un grupo de personas mayores que presentan deterioro cognitivo leve. Los objetivos específicos que se plantean son: a) Mejorar las capacidades cognitivas de los residentes a los que se le aplica el programa. b) Mejorar el estado anímico y emocional de los participantes. c) Fomentar la interacción psicosocial entre los residentes a los que se le aplica el programa.2023-2

Programa de intervención no farmacológica para pacientes con dolor crónico un enfoque desde las terapias de tercera generación

El dolor crónico (DC) constituye un gran problema de salud pública, siendo actualmente una de las mayores epidemias, por su elevada prevalencia y por el coste emocional, económico y social, con un profundo impacto en la calidad de vida de quien lo sufre (González, 2014). Bajo la calificación de dolor crónico se suelen englobar patologías como lumbalgia, fibromialgia, artrosis y cefaleas, en las que la psicología actual está trabajando para conocer la determinación de los factores psicológicos implicados en su desarrollo, mantenimiento, cronificación, tratamiento y/o recuperación (González, 2014; Ramos-Vera, 2023).Este estudio tiene como objetivo diseñar una intervención basada en ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy) y la Terapia Basada en Mindfulness para aliviar los síntomas en personas con DC. Este se realizará con población no oncológica que presenta diversas patologías como lumbalgia, fibromialgia, artrosis y cefaleas, entre otras..., evaluando la relación del dolor crónico con variables vinculadas con la calidad de vida (la ansiedad, estrés, depresión, resiliencia, satisfacción con la vida...). Se diseñará un programa de ACT y Mindfulness en grupos online, para trabajar las distintas estrategias que contribuyen al manejo del dolor y sus variables relacionadas.2023-2