Long-term dietary folate deficiency accelerates progressive hearing loss on CBA/Ca mice

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).Dietary folic acid deficiency induced early hearing loss in C57BL/6J mice after two-months, corroborating the epidemiological association previously described between vitamin deficiency and this sensory impairment. However, this strain is prone to early hearing loss, and hence we decided to analyze whether the effects exerted by folate deprivation follow the same pattern in a mouse strain such as CBA/Ca, which is resistant to hearing impairment. Here, we show results of a long-term study on hearing carried out on CBA/Ca mice subjected to dietary folate deprivation. Systemic changes included decreased serum folate levels, hyperhomocysteinemia and signs of anemia in the group fed the folate-deficient diet. Initial signs of hearing loss were detected in this strain after 8-months of vitamin deficiency, and correlated with histological damage in the cochleae. In conclusion, the data presented reinforce the importance of adequate folic acid levels for the auditory system and suggest that the impact of dietary deficiencies may depend on the genetic background.RM was a fellow of the JAE-CSIC predoctoral program. This work was supported by grants of the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (SAF2014-53979-R to IV; BFU2009-08977 to MP), the European Union (FP7-AFHELO and TARGEAR to IV).Peer reviewe

Long-term omega-3 fatty acid supplementation prevents expression changes in cochlear homocysteine metabolism and ameliorates progressive hearing loss in C57BL/6J mice

Abstract Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential nutrients well known for their beneficial effects, among others on cognitive development and maintenance, inflammation and oxidative stress. Previous studies have shown an inverse association between high plasma levels of PUFAs and age-related hearing loss, and the relationship between low serum folate and elevated plasma homocysteine levels and hearing loss. Therefore, we used C57BL/6J mice and long-term omega-3 supplementation to evaluate the impact on hearing by analyzing their auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) thresholds. The omega-3 group showed significantly lower ABR hearing thresholds (~25 dB sound pressure level) and higher DPOAE amplitudes in mid-high frequencies when compared to the control group. These changes did not correlate with alterations between groups in plasma homocysteine or serum folate levels as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and a microbiological method, respectively. Aging in the control group was associated with imbalanced cytokine expression toward increased proinflammatory cytokines as determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; these changes were prevented by omega-3 supplementation. Genes involved in homocysteine metabolism showed decreased expression during aging of control animals, and only alterations in Bhmt and Cbs were significantly prevented by omega-3 feeding. Western blotting showed that omega-3 supplementation precluded the CBS protein increase detected in 10-month-old controls but also produced an increase in BHMT protein levels. Altogether, the results obtained suggest a long-term protective role of omega-3 supplementation on cochlear metabolism and progression of hearing loss

Folic acid deficiency induces premature hearing loss through mechanisms involving cochlear oxidative stress and impairment of homocysteine metabolism

Nutritional imbalance is emerging as a causative factor of hearing loss (HL). Epidemiological studies have linked HL to elevated plasma homocysteine (pHcy) and folate deficiency, and showed that folate supplementation lowers pHcy levels potentially ameliorating age-related HL. The purpose of this study was to address the potential impact of folate deficiency in HL and to unveil the underlying mechanisms. For this purpose, two-month old C57BL/6J-mice (Animalia Chordata Mus musculus) were randomly divided in two groups (n=65 each) that were fed folate-deficient or standard diets for 8 weeks. HPLC analysis demonstrated 7-fold decline in serum folate and 3-fold increase in pHcy levels. Auditory brainstem recordings showed that only folate-deficient mice exhibited severe HL and cochlear TUNEL+-apoptotic cells. RTqPCR and Western-blotting showed reduced levels of enzymes involved in Hcy production and recycling, together with 30% increased protein homocysteinylation. Redox stress was evidenced by decreased expression of Cat, Gpx4 and Gss genes, increased levels of the proteins MnSOD and the NOX-complex adaptor p22phox, and elevated concentrations of glutathione species. Altogether, our findings show for the first time that the relationship between folate-induced hyperhomocysteinemia and premature HL involves impairment of cochlear Hcy metabolism and associated oxidative stress

Comparing Languages Through the Process of Story Making. The Reception of Linguistic Structures from Teacher’s Training Students in Spain

The article will consider the role that fairy tales may have in the background of future Preschool and Primary teachers as language learning promoters. By increasing their knowledge on fairy tales and providing them, with suitable contact with different languages we are promoting an Intercultural character of Education and at the same time, we are demonstrating that, taking as a reference a fairy tale, we can work with different linguistic structures. The text will present an experience with more than one hundred future teachers in which we tried to demonstrate that they can start their learning of new languages using a story. The Story making methodology will support this language learning, once we know that it is possible for students to identify the key parts of the texts.Keywords: Stories, Fairy tales, Teaching of Language and Literature, Story making methodology, Intercultural Education

Results of the implementation of a virtual microscope in a course of histology

[EN] The course of Anatomy and Histology is studied in the first year of Dentistry at the University Cardenal Herrera CEU (Alfara del Patriarca, Spain). Its practices consist on choose freely six different tissue samples and draw their most representative features. These practices were made by optical microscopy until 2014, and in 2015 was introduced the virtual microscope exclusively. The aim of the study is to test whether this new teaching method has improved the quality of exercise and the understanding shown by students. First, the best exercises of both years were chosen, and from them some drawings from the same tissue were compared. Some tissues which samples for optical microscope were hard to obtain, were drawn for the very first time thanks to the virtual microscope. Also, with the virtual microscopy the drawings contained more details and definition. The understanding of the structures improved, shown by a more functional, detailed and defined vision of the tissues. The labels of the virtual microscope helped to the self-study and avoided the loss of unnoticed structures. In conclusion, replacement of optical microscope by the virtual microscope is a teaching improvement and facilitates student learning.Alegre-Martínez, A.; Martínez-Martínez, MI.; Alfonso Sanchez, JL.; Morales Suárez-Varela, MM.; Llopis Gonzalez, A. (2016). Results of the implementation of a virtual microscope in a course of histology. En 2nd. International conference on higher education advances (HEAD'16). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 169-176. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD16.2015.2626OCS16917

Preliminary study of the Craniofacial Pain and Disability Inventory-11:validation for patients with head and neck cancer

Cancer involves numerous physical, psychological and emotional changes and has a negative impact on patients. Although there are a wide variety of questionnaires for general use in patients with cancer, very few are available that assess the pain, disability and craniomandibular functionality of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) in a more specific manner. The purpose of this study is to present the preliminary behavior of the CF-PDI in its reduced version adapted for patients with HNC. A total of 61 patients with HNC were included in a study to preliminarily analyze the internal consistency of the instrument, the convergent validity and the floor and ceiling effects. All the patients completed the informed consent document and a battery of 5 questionnaires: The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia for Temporomandibular Disorders (TSK-TMD), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Quality of Life Questionnaire in patients with HNC (QLQ-HN) and the reduced version of the Craniofacial Pain and Disability Inventory (CF-PDI-11). Patients also performed 2 physical tests: measurements of the pain threshold on the masseter muscle and on the distal phalanx of the first finger; and the maximum mouth opening in neutral head position. Cronbach's ? coefficient showed a very high internal consistency of 0.92. In terms of convergent validity, a statistically significant correlation was found between the CF-PDI-11 and the following variables: NRS, TSK-TMD, PCS, QLQ-HN, the threshold of pain in the distal phalanx of the first finger and the maximum interincisal opening. However, 21.3% of patients obtained the lowest possible score. The strongest correlation was found between the CF-PDI-11 and the QLQ-HN (r = 0.85, p <0.01). The preliminary version of the CF-PDI-11 shows that it could be a valid and reliable instrument to measure pain, disability and quality of life in patients with HNC

Mn2+ complexes containing sulfonamide groups with pH-responsive relaxivity

We present two ligands containing a N-ethyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenesulfonamide group attached to either a 6,6'-(azanediylbis(methylene))dipicolinic acid unit (H3DPASAm) or a 2,2'-(1,4,7-triazonane-1,4-diyl)diacetic acid macrocyclic platform (H3NO2ASAm). These ligands were designed to provide pH-dependent relaxivity response upon complexation with Mn2+ in aqueous solution. The protonation constants of the ligands and the stability constants of the Mn2+ complexes were determined using potentiometric titrations complemented by spectrophotometric experiments. The deprotonation of the sulfonamide groups of the ligands are characterized by protonation constants of logKiH = 10.36 and 10.59 for DPASAm3 and HNO2ASAm2 , respectively. These values decrease dramatically to logKiH = 6.43 and 5.42 in the presence of Mn2+ due to the coordination of the negatively charged sulfonamide groups to the metal ion. The higher logKiH value in [Mn(DPASAm)] is related to the formation of a seven-coordinate complex, while the metal ion in [Mn(NO2ASAm)] is six-coordinated. The X ray crystal structure of Na[Mn(DPASAm)(H2O)]·2H2O confirms the formation of a seven-coordinate complex, where the coordination environment is fulfilled by the donor atoms of the two picolinate groups, the amine N at-om, the N atom of the sulfonamide group and a coordinated water molecule. The lower conditional stability of the [Mn(NO2ASAm)] complex and the lower protonation constant of the sulfonamide group results in complex dissociation at relatively high pH (< 7.0). However, protonation of the sulfonamide group in [Mn(DPASAm)] falls into the physiologically relevant pH window and causes a significant increase in relaxivity from r1p = 3.8 mM 1 s 1 at pH 9.0 to r1p = 8.9 mM 1 s 1 at pH 4.0 (10 MHz, 25 ºC).Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. CTQ2016-76756-PXunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431B 2017/59Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431D 2017/01Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481A-2018/314Universitá degli Studi del Piemonte OrientaleMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. BEAGAL18/0014

Correlation of Zinc with Oxidative Stress Biomarkers

Hypertension and smoking are related with oxidative stress (OS), which in turn reports on cellular aging. Zinc is an essential element involved in an individual¿s physiology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of zinc levels in serum and urine with OS and cellular aging and its effect on the development of hypertension. In a Spanish sample with 1500 individuals, subjects aged 20¿59 years were selected, whose zinc intake levels fell within the recommended limits. These individuals were classified found (Pearson¿s C = 0.639; p = 0.01) between Zn serum/urine quotient and oxidized glutathione levels (GSSG). Finally, risk of hypertension significantly increased when the GSSG levels exceeded the 75 percentile; OR = 2.80 (95%CI = 1.09¿7.18) and AOR = 3.06 (95%CI = 0.96¿9.71). Low zinc levels in serum were related with OS and cellular aging and were, in turn, to be a risk factor for hypertension

Anuario de estudios celianos 2016-17

La Universidad Camilo José Cela recoge en estos anuarios las investigaciones que se llevan a cabo cada año sobre la obra de quien fue su rector Honorario. Se compromete así, en colaboración con la Fundación que también lleva su nombre, con la herencia literaria y la memoria de CJC, y favorece la divulgación de las conclusiones de los estudios más importantes realizados cada año

Actitudes medio ambientales en los estudiantes del Máster Universitario en Formación del Profesorado de ESO y Bachillerato, Formación Profesional y Enseñanzas de Idiomas de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

Análisis de las actitudes medioambientales presentes en los estudiantes del Máster Universitario en Formación del Profesorado de ESO y Bachillerato,Formación Profesional y Enseñanzas de Idiomas de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid