Antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae and their relation to lymphocyte population levels

Producción CientíficaChlamydia pneumoniae infection has long been suspected as a possible cause of atherosclerosis and has been frequently detected in atheromatous plaques of the coronary arteries. Nevertheless, its distribution is not correlated to the severity or extent of the disease, but it would support the hypothesis that the organism may be an active factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. A group of patients with stable angina were examined as to whether or not the positivity of antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae modified cellular populations as mechanisms responsible for the alterations of inflammatory response. We concluded that the presence of IgG anti-C. pneumoniae antibodies do not participate in the activation of inflammatory mechanisms that may intervene in the genesis of atherosclerosis in patients with stable angina

Antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae in stable angina and interleukin-6 levels

Producción CientíficaInflammation is a key mechanism in atherogenesis and the rapid progression of coronary artery disease. Tissue lesion occasions the release of chemical mediators, cytokines, accompanied by an increase in the blood concentrations of acute phase reactants, such as fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A protein, sialic acid and ceruloplasmin and a reduction of those of albumin. It has been observed that these proteins are higher in patients with is-chemic heart disease and, furthermore, who have a higher tendency to present adverse cardiovascular incidents [1]. On the other hand, the inflammation appears to be directly linked to the ‘vulnerability’ or ‘instability’ of the atheromatous plaques that pre-dispose to disruption and acute coronary incidents. The inflammatory mechanism, therefore, can repre-sent the final common connection channel of chronic infection between atherogenesis and the clinical manifestations of coronary artery disease [2]

Efectos de la fatiga sobre la actividad muscular durante sucesivos test de sentadilla (30 seg).

Resumen:  Introducción: La fatiga se define como la incapacidad del Sistema neuromuscular para mantener un nivel determinado de potencia. La monitorización de la pérdida de Altura de salto ha sido utilizada como un indicador de fatiga muscular. La Electromiografía (EMG) es también una herramienta adecuada para determinar la fatiga ya que tiene una alta correlación con las unidades motoras activas (reclutamiento de fibras musculares). El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar los efectos de la fatiga sobre la actividad muscular en las extremidades inferiores durante sucesivos test de media sentadilla (30 segundos). Métodos: 5 sujetos sanos entrenados participaron en el estudio. Realizaron 2 sesiones de test, un test de potencia máxima de media sentadilla y 4 series de un test de capacidad anaeróbica de media sentadilla (30 seg.). Resultados: Se observaron diferencias significativas (P=0.002) en la comparativa de los efectos inter-sujetos (Vasto lateral vs. Recto femoral). Observamos también diferencias significativas en la comparación por pares (P<0.001). Conclusiones: Observamos cómo la fatiga modifica la activación neuromuscular del vasto lateral y el recto femoral durante la ejecución de 4 test consecutivos de media sentadilla (30 seg.).Peer Reviewe

Valor pronóstico de los anticuerpos anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae en la cardiopatía isquémica

Producción CientíficaSe ha relacionado la enfermedad arterial coronaria con infección por Chlamydia pneumoniae, pero existen pocos estudios que valoren la presencia de anticuerpos frente a este microorganismo y el pronóstico de los pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue valorar el impacto de la positividad de anticuerpos anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae en la morbimortalidad asociada a la cardiopatía isquémica

Incidence, clinical characteristics and management of inflammatory bowel disease in Spain: large-scale epidemiological study

(1) Aims: To assess the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Spain, to describe the main epidemiological and clinical characteristics at diagnosis and the evolution of the disease, and to explore the use of drug treatments. (2) Methods: Prospective, population-based nationwide registry. Adult patients diagnosed with IBD—Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) or IBD unclassified (IBD-U)—during 2017 in Spain were included and were followed-up for 1 year. (3) Results: We identified 3611 incident cases of IBD diagnosed during 2017 in 108 hospitals covering over 22 million inhabitants. The overall incidence (cases/100, 000 person-years) was 16 for IBD, 7.5 for CD, 8 for UC, and 0.5 for IBD-U; 53% of patients were male and median age was 43 years (interquartile range = 31–56 years). During a median 12-month follow-up, 34% of patients were treated with systemic steroids, 25% with immunomodulators, 15% with biologics and 5.6% underwent surgery. The percentage of patients under these treatments was significantly higher in CD than UC and IBD-U. Use of systemic steroids and biologics was significantly higher in hospitals with high resources. In total, 28% of patients were hospitalized (35% CD and 22% UC patients, p < 0.01). (4) Conclusion: The incidence of IBD in Spain is rather high and similar to that reported in Northern Europe. IBD patients require substantial therapeutic resources, which are greater in CD and in hospitals with high resources, and much higher than previously reported. One third of patients are hospitalized in the first year after diagnosis and a relevant proportion undergo surgery. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Correction : Chaparro et al. Incidence, Clinical Characteristics and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Spain: Large-Scale Epidemiological Study. J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 2885

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]

Incidence, Clinical Characteristics and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Spain : Large-Scale Epidemiological Study

(1) Aims: To assess the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Spain, to describe the main epidemiological and clinical characteristics at diagnosis and the evolution of the disease, and to explore the use of drug treatments. (2) Methods: Prospective, population-based nationwide registry. Adult patients diagnosed with IBD-Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) or IBD unclassified (IBD-U)-during 2017 in Spain were included and were followed-up for 1 year. (3) Results: We identified 3611 incident cases of IBD diagnosed during 2017 in 108 hospitals covering over 22 million inhabitants. The overall incidence (cases/100,000 person-years) was 16 for IBD, 7.5 for CD, 8 for UC, and 0.5 for IBD-U; 53% of patients were male and median age was 43 years (interquartile range = 31-56 years). During a median 12-month follow-up, 34% of patients were treated with systemic steroids, 25% with immunomodulators, 15% with biologics and 5.6% underwent surgery. The percentage of patients under these treatments was significantly higher in CD than UC and IBD-U. Use of systemic steroids and biologics was significantly higher in hospitals with high resources. In total, 28% of patients were hospitalized (35% CD and 22% UC patients, p < 0.01). (4) Conclusion: The incidence of IBD in Spain is rather high and similar to that reported in Northern Europe. IBD patients require substantial therapeutic resources, which are greater in CD and in hospitals with high resources, and much higher than previously reported. One third of patients are hospitalized in the first year after diagnosis and a relevant proportion undergo surgery

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field

Estudio de los cambios de los valores morales a través de la letra de las canciones

Se realiza una investigación interdisciplinar sobre el cambio de los valores morales a través de la letra de las canciones de tres generaciones: la correspondiente a los años cuarenta y cincuenta, esto es, la música que escuchaban los abuelos de los alumnos; la que coincide con el despegue económico, la llegada del turismo y la apertura democrática, esto es, la música que escuchaban los padres de los alumnos; y la actual, la que viven los adolescentes de 4õ de la ESO. Las áreas implicadas son Ética, Ciencias Sociales, y Geografía e Historia. Otras materias como Tecnología dirigen las búsquedas por Internet; Inglés analizando la influencia anglosajona en los movimientos musicales; y Música dando asesoramiento técnico y complementario, colaboran en el análisis de estos aspectos de cambio socio-cultural. Por tanto, se pretende hacer una investigación de campo en la que los propios alumnos perfilen los objetivos y elaboren el material de trabajo. Algunos de los objetivos propuestos son aprender a seleccionar la información relevante de un tema; comprender y analizar textos con contenidos morales; ubicar un documento en su contexto histórico-cultural; entender la evolución de las mentalidades; asumir la progresiva complejidad de la sociedad actual; potenciar el interés por la materia de inglés; adquirir los hábitos de la investigación; relacionar y aplicar los conocimientos adquiridos; saber distinguir entre valores universales y valores relativos; exponer con fluidez verbal las conclusiones de la propia investigación; y presentar correctamente los trabajos. Las actividades se realizan en función de un trabajo que se presenta al finalizar el curso y consisten en seleccionar una canción de cada grupo, elaborar el marco histórico-cultural, señalar las influencias anglosajonas, distinguir entre los valores universales y los valores relativos a cada época en las distintas canciones y aportar conclusiones personales. Para que todos los alumnos sigan el mismo esquema de trabajo se crea una plantilla metodológica que oriente la presentación de los trabajos. La evaluación de estos trabajos sirve para subir hasta un punto la nota final en la asignatura de Ética, los tres aspectos que puntúan son la calidad de la exposición oral, la calidad de los contenidos investigados y la correcta presentación de los trabajos. Se aporta como anexos fotografías y comentarios de texto de varias canciones y artistas de las generaciones seleccionadas..Madrid (Comunidad Autónoma). Consejería de Educación. Dirección General de Mejora de la Calidad de la EnseñanzaMadridMadrid (Comunidad Autónoma). Subdirección General de Formación del Profesorado. CRIF Las Acacias; General Ricardos 179 - 28025 Madrid; Tel. + 34915250893ES