MINDREST: MINDfulness con apoyo de herramientas digitales como intervención para Reducir el ESTrés y la ansiedad en estudiantes del Grado de Enfermería

Los estudiantes de Enfermería presentan en un alto porcentaje niveles moderados y altos de estrés y ansiedad. A día de hoy se conocen una serie de factores propios del individuo que intervienen en la gestión de la ansiedad y estrés dentro del entorno académico. Estos factores pueden ser modulados gracias a la intervención de programas de Mindfulness. La práctica de Mindfulness, de origen budista, se basa en la atención plena del individuo, permitiéndole focalizarse en el aquí y ahora. Presenta numerosos beneficios, entre los que destaca la autogestión y control emocional. En este sentido, ha sido implementado en el aula como un recurso beneficioso tanto para docentes como estudiantes. Por ello, se plantearon los siguientes objetivos: 1) desarrollar una aplicación (MINDREST) con elementos que permitan una iniciación o seguimiento de la práctica de Mindfulness, 2) impulsar la práctica de Mindfulness entre estudiantes de la asignatura de Enfermería del Adulto I del Grado de Enfermería, 3) evaluar la eficacia de la práctica de Mindfulness como herramienta de apoyo docente en relación al rendimiento académico en las prácticas de asignatura de Enfermería del Adulto I, 4) determinar el impacto de la implementación de un programa basado en Mindfulness sobre el estrés y ansiedad de los estudiantes de Enfermería y 5) evaluar la motivación, satisfacción y participación de los estudiantes de la asignatura de Enfermería del Adulto I correspondiente con el programa Mindfulness relacionado y el uso de herramientas digitales. Se reclutó un total de 55 estudiantes, de los cuales 52 completaron el estudio, distribuyéndose 18 participantes en los grupos de práctica presencial y online, y 16 en el grupo control. Tras las 10 sesiones de práctica mindfulness, se recogieron los datos de variables objeto de interés en este proyecto. Se observó cómo la intervención redujo los niveles de estrés en el grupo online respecto a valores iniciales. Además, se apreció una alteración mayor del estado de ánimo en el grupo online, que no en los grupos que practicaron mindfulness. No se encontraron diferencias en el rendimiento y satisfacción académica, y biomarcadores relacionados con el estrés. Las valoraciones obtenidas sobre la satisfacción en el proyecto mostraron una mejor sensación obtenida en el grupo presencial, que no en los grupos online y control; donde los estudiantes refirieron apreciar barreras en su participación, falta de interacción, en el grupo online, o descontento por no recibir la intervención. Dentro de las limitaciones de este proyecto ha sido el bajo número de estudiantes por grupo, afectando al grado de significación estadística. De igual modo, la evaluación post-intervención se realizó justo antes de la evaluación de la asignatura (factor estresante), lo que indica que es una situación estresora mayor para los estudiantes, requiriendo de un tiempo mayor de práctica mindfulness para observar modulación de la capacidad de autorregulación emocional. Así, se necesita de futuros trabajos que permita un tiempo de ejecución de la intervención y reclutamiento mayor, que elimine las barreras que puedan ocurrir en la participación de estudiantes

Role of Vitamin D in the Metabolic Syndrome

This study was supported by research group BIO277 (Junta de Andalucía) and the Department of Nursing (University of Granada).The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D has risen in developed countries over the past few years in association with lifestyle changes and an increase in unhealthy habits. Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in various diseases, including metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is clinically defined by a set of metabolic and vascular disorders. The objective of this study was to review scientific evidence on the relationship between MetS and vitamin D deficiency to support the development of prevention strategies and health education programs. An inverse relationship has been reported between plasma vitamin D concentrations and the features that define MetS, i.e., elevated serum concentrations of glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, glycosylated hemoglobin, and a high body mass index. Numerous studies have described the benefits of vitamin D supplementation to improve outcomes in individuals with MetS. Interventions to maintain optimal vitamin D concentrations are proposed as a preventive strategy against MetS.Junta de AndaluciaDepartment of Nursing (University of Granada

Potential Effects of Phenolic Compounds That Can Be Found in Olive Oil on Wound Healing

This study was supported by research group BIO277 (Junta de Andalucia) and the Department of Nursing of the University of Granada. We would also like to thank Concepcion Ruiz for the considerations and retouches made to this paper.The treatment of tissue damage produced by physical, chemical, or mechanical agents involves considerable direct and indirect costs to health care systems. Wound healing involves a series of molecular and cellular events aimed at repairing the defect in tissue integrity. These events can be favored by various natural agents, including the polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). The objective of this study was to review data on the potential effects of different phenolic compounds that can also be found in EVOO on wound healing and closure. Results of in vitro and animal studies demonstrate that polyphenols from different plant species, also present in EVOO, participate in different aspects of wound healing, accelerating this process through their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties and their stimulation of angiogenic activities required for granulation tissue formation and wound re-epithelialization. These results indicate the potential usefulness of EVOO phenolic compounds for wound treatment, either alone or in combination with other therapies. Human studies are warranted to verify this proposition.Junta de Andalucia BIO277Department of Nursing of the University of Granad

SARS-CoV-2 infection: The role of cytokines in COVID-19 disease.

COVID-19 disease, caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2, is related to a series of physiopathological mechanisms that mobilize a wide variety of biomolecules, mainly immunological in nature. In the most severe cases, the prognosis can be markedly worsened by the hyperproduction of mainly proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-γ, and TNF-α, preferentially targeting lung tissue. This study reviews published data on alterations in the expression of different cytokines in patients with COVID-19 who require admission to an intensive care unit. Data on the implication of cytokines in this disease and their effect on outcomes will support the design of more effective approaches to the management of COVID-19

Human Fibroblast Gene Expression Modulation Using 940 NM Diode Laser

Low-Level Laser Therapy is used as regenerative therapy in different clinical fields. This is due to its photobiomodulation effect via cell signaling on different cell populations, Including fibroblasts, cells involved in tissue regeneration and healing. The aim was to analyze the effect of 940 nm diode laser on the gene expression of different markers involved in fibroblast growth, differentiation, and migration. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-RT-PCR) was used to quantify the expression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), TGFβ-receptors (TGFβR1, TGFβR2, and TGFβR3), discoidin-domain receptor-2 (DDR2), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2), α-actin, fibronectin, decorin, and elastin on human fibroblast, treated with single dose (T1) or two doses (T2) of diode laser at 0.5 Watts and 4 J/cm2. A significant increase in the expression of FGF, TGF-β1, TGFβR1, TGFβR2, α-actin, fibronectin, decorin, DDR2 and MMP2 was observed after both treatments. A decrease was observed in expression of elastin (T1 and T2), and CTGF (T2). These changes underlie the biostimulatory effect of laser on fibroblasts, which translates into an increase in short-term proliferation and in long-term differentiation to myofibroblasts. These data support the therapeutic potential of diode laser for wound repair

Bone Protective Effect of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Phenolic Compounds by Modulating Osteoblast Gene Expression

The phenolic compounds of extra-virgin olive oil can act at various levels to protect individuals against cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and osteoporosis, among others. Polyphenols in extra-virgin olive oil can stimulate the proliferation of osteoblasts, modify their antigen profile, and promote alkaline phosphatase synthesis. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of different extra-virgin olive oil phenolic compounds on the gene expression of osteoblast-related markers. The cells of the MG63 osteoblast line were cultured for 24 h with 10-6 M of the phenolic compounds ferulic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, apigenin, or luteolin. The expression of studied markers was quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-RT-PCR). The expression by MG63 osteoblasts of growth and differentiation/maturation markers was modified after 24 h of treatment with 10-6 M of the phenolic compounds under study, most of which increased the gene expression of the transforming growth factor 1 (TGF- 1), TGF- receptor 1,2 and 3 (TGF- R1, TGF- R2, TGF- R3), bone morphogenetic protein 2 and 7 (BMP2, BMP7), run-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX-2), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Osteocalcin (OSC), Osterix (OSX), Collagen type I (Col-I) and osteoprotegerin (OPN). The extra-virgin olive oil phenolic compounds may have a beneficial effect on bone by modulating osteoblast physiology, which would support their protective effect against bone pathologies.The work outlined in this article has been partially funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education under FPU fellowship reference FPU15-0563

Effects of bisphenol F, bisphenol S, and bisphenol AF on cultured human osteoblasts

Bisphenol A (BPA) analogs, like BPA, could have adverse effects on human health including bone health. The aim was to determine the effect of BPF, BPS and BPAF on the growth and differentiation of cultured human osteoblasts. Osteoblasts primary culture from bone chips harvested during routine dental work and treated with BPF, BPS, or BPAF for 24 h at doses of 10 –5 , 10 –6 , and 10 –7 M. Next, cell proliferation was studied, apoptosis induction, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. In addition, mineralization was evaluated at 7, 14, and 21 days of cell culture in an osteogenic medium supplemented with BP analog at the studied doses. BPS treatment inhibited proliferation in a dose-dependent manner at all three doses by inducing apoptosis; BPF exerted a significant inhibitory effect on cell proliferation at the highest dose alone by an increase of apopto- sis; while BPAF had no effect on proliferation or cell viability. Cell differentiation was adversely affected by treatment with BPA analogs in a dose-dependent, observing a reduction in calcium nodule formation at 21 days. According to the results obtained, these BPA analogs could potentially pose a threat to bone health, depending on their concentration in the organism.Funding for open access publishing: Universidad de Granada/ CBU