The custom-made foot orthosis using the Central Stabilizer Element: nex concept of element

Foot orthoses have been applied for the management of lower limb disorders, mainly for those who develop foot pain. The Central Stabilizer Element (CSE) is a new element that contains the midfoot laterally when a plantar insole is manufactured. OBJECTIVES: - To determine the effect on foot pain of adding the Central Stabilizer Element during the manufacturing process of foot orthosis, -- - To describe the proportions of Central Stabilizer Element in terms of width and length of this element. METHODS: A sample comprising 130 patients (57 males and 73 females) with foot pain was recruited for this study, with the patients having supinated, neutral, pronated and overpronated feet. All the patients received a custom-made foot orthosis with the Central Stabilizer Element. The Central Stabilizer Element was made of resins of polyvinyl chloride, and is a device insert in foot orthosis that contains the midfoot laterally to control pronation and supination movements. Conclusion •The students know how to design the insole. •They know how to match different foot posture with the different types of insoles •We make our decisions based on the scientific evidence foundUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

La comercialización de maíz después de Conasupo en dos comunidades del norte del Estado de México

El estudio se enfoca en los pequeños productores y compradores de maíz del Estado de México. Se analiza el cambio que se dio una vez que desaparece la Conasupo, lo cual tuvo como principal efecto la reestructuración del mercado maicero, se hizo patente que no existía el conocimiento del mercado, y que este proceso es el principal problema al cual se enfrenta el productor una vez que terminan las cosechas y ha orillado a los productores a buscar otras opciones, como la especialización de la producción para mejorar los rendimientos y la calidad del maíz

Laboratorio remoto eLab3D: un mundo virtual inmersivo para el aprendizaje de la electrónica

En este artículo se presenta un recurso educativo novedoso, basado en un laboratorio remoto, que permite a los estudiantes, a través de Internet, la realización de experimentos reales en el área de la electrónica. Se ha creado un mundo virtual 3D donde los usuarios, a través de sus avatares, pueden interaccionar con réplicas virtuales de instrumentos, placas de circuitos, componentes o cables y con compañeros y profesores, de forma similar a como lo harían en un laboratorio presencial. Este recurso ofrece múltiples posibilidades que pueden ser muy útiles en los diferentes niveles educativos. Se han llevado a cabo algunas experiencias educativas de utilización de la plataforma con el fin de valorar sus posibilidades docentes y los resultados obtenidos han sido muy positivos. ABSTRACT. This paper presents an innovative educational resource, based on a remote laboratory, which allows users to conduct real experiments through Internet in the area of electronics. A 3D virtual world has been created in which users, by means of their avatars, can interact with virtual replicas of instruments, circuit boards, components or cables and with peers and teachers, as they would in a traditional laboratory. This resource offers multiple possibilities that can be very useful in the different education levels. Some educative experiences have been carried out using the platform to evaluate its educational possibilities and the obtained results have been very positive

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells characterization and transplantation in an animal model of congenital hydrocephalus

Congenital hydrocephalus is a disorder presenting a degeneration of the periventricular cerebral parenchyma and the white matter, which causes significant mortality and life-long neurological complications. There are currently no effective therapies for congenital hydrocephalus. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) are considered as a potential therapeutic tool in neurodegenerative diseases, due to their ability to migrate to degenerated tissues and the production of growth factors. In the present study, using an animal model of congenital hydrocephalus, the hyh mouse, it has been studied the capacity of the BM-MSC to reach the degenerated regions exhibiting glial reactions and their probable neuroprotector effects. The BM-MSC were isolated from two different sources: a) transgenic mice expressing the monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP1); b) wild type mice. In the second case, the BM-MSC were labelled in vitro using bromodeoxyuridine, a fluorescent cell tracker and the lipophilic DiR. Before application, the cells were analysed using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. The BM-MSC were injected into the retro-orbital sinus or into the lateral ventricle of hyh mice. After 24/96 hours of administration, the BM-MSC were detected under light, confocal and electron microscopes. The injected BM-MSC reached the degenerated periventricular regions and the disrupted neurogenic niches. They were detected in the periventricular parenchyma, around periventricular blood vessels and in the ventral meninges. Most of the applied BM-MSC expressed the glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), in the same way as the periventricular reactive astrocytes, suggesting a possible neuroprotector effect.FIS (Instituto de Salud Carlos III)-FEDER a AJJ. Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Characterization and administration of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in an animal model of congenital hydrocephalus

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) are considered as a potential therapeutic tool in neurodegenerative diseases, due to their ability to migrate to degenerated tissues and the production of growth factors. Congenital hydrocephalus is a disorder characterized by a degeneration of the periventricular cerebral parenchyma and the white matter. In the present study, using an animal model of congenital hydrocephalus, the hyh mouse, it has been studied the capacity of the BM-MSC to reach the degenerated regions exhibiting glial reactions and their probable neuroprotector effects. The BM-MSC were isolated from two sources: a) transgenic mice expressing the monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP1); b) wild type mice. In the second case, the BM-MSC were labelled in vitro using bromodeoxyuridine, a fluorescent cell tracker and the lipophilic DiR. Before application, the cells were analysed using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. The BM-MSC were injected into the retro-orbital sinus or into the lateral ventricle of hyh mice. After 24/96 hours of administration, they were detected under light, confocal and electron microscopes. The injected BM-MSC reached the degenerated periventricular regions and the disrupted neurogenic niches. They were detected in the periventricular parenchyma, around periventricular blood vessels and in the ventral meninges. Most of the applied BM-MSC expressed the glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), in the same way as the periventricular reactive astrocytes, suggesting a possible neuroprotector effect.Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, PI12/0631 con cofinanciación FEDER

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review

Background: Epidemiological studies have suggested a pathophysiological relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study is to evaluate the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in AD and its relationship with neurocognitive function improvement. Methods: Systematic review conducted following PRISMA's statements. Relevant studies were searched in MEDLINE, PEDro, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL and SportDicus. Original studies in which CPAP treatment was developel in AD patients have been included. Results: 5 studies, 3 RCTs (Randomized controlled trials) and 2 pilot studies. In all RCTs the CPAP intervention was six weeks; 3 weeks of therapeutic CPAP vs. 3 weeks placebo CPAP (pCPAP) followed by 3 weeks tCPAP in patients with AD and OSA. The two pilot studies conducted a follow-up in which the impact on cognitive impairment was measured. Conclusions: CPAP treatment in AD patients decreases excessive daytime sleepiness and improves sleep quality. There are indications that cognitive deterioration function measured with the Mini Mental Scale decreases or evolves to a lesser extent in Alzheimer's patients treated with CPAP. Caregivers observe stabilization in disease progression with integration of CPAP. More research is needed on the topic presented

Phosphatidylcholine-coated iron oxide nanomicelles for in vivo prolonged circulation time with an antibiofouling protein corona

We report the synthesis of micellar phosphatidylcholine-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as a new long circulation contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. Oleic acid-coated Fe3 O4 nanoparticles were first prepared through thermal degradation and then encapsulated into small clusters with a phosphatidylcholine coating to obtain hydrophilic nanomicelles. A thorough characterization confirmed the chemical nature of the coating and the excellent colloidal stability of these nanomicelles in aqueous media. Magnetization and relaxivity properties proved their suitability as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent and in vitro cell viability data showed low toxicity. Vascular lifetime and elimination kinetics in the liver were assessed by blood relaxometry and by in vivo MRI in rats and compared with "control" particles prepared with a polyethylene glycol derivative. These micellar particles had a lifetime in blood of more than 10 h, much longer than the control nanoparticles (≈2 h), which is remarkable considering that the coating molecule is a small biocompatible zwitterionic phospholipid. The protein corona was characterized after incubation with rat serum at different times by high-throughput proteomics, showing a higher proportion of bound apolipoproteins and other dysopsonins for the phosphatidylcholine particles. The antibiofouling properties of this corona and its resistance to the adsorption of proteins corroborate the observed enhanced stability and prolonged systemic circulation.This study is supported by a grant from FP7 Marie Curie, Pulmonary imaging network (PINET), by Fundacio La Maratode TV3 (70/C/2012) and by a grant from the Comunidad de Madrid (S2010/BMD-2326, Inmunothercan-CM) and by Spanish Economy Ministry (MAT2013-47303-P). We thank E. Urones (Centro Nacional de Microscopia de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid) for the transmission electronic microscopy imaging; P. Morales (Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de la Universidad Autonoma de Madrid) for the thermogravimetric and magnetization analysis and B. Salinas (Fundacion Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares and CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias) for the TEM picture of oleic acid coated Fe3 O4. The authors declare no competing financial interests.S

Multidimensional nos supervised analysis (textural and spacial) in MRI tomography for watercore detection

4 Pags., 2 figs.This work has been carried out in the frame of the European project InsideFood (Integrated sensing and imaging devices for designing, monitoring and controlling microstructure of foods). The aim of this project is to provide technological solutions for exploring the microstructure of foods, by the combination and application of different non-destructive techniques such as X-ray CT, OCT, MRI, NMR, TRS and SRS, aimed at online sensing of food microstructure, water status, texture and optical properties. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been used in order to detect watercore disorder in three different varieties of apples, which are non commercialized due to their watercore development problems. These three varieties are: Ascara2, Rebellón and Tempera, which were grown under favourable conditions for the development of such disorder. At first step, MRI has been used for screening the apples population in order to detect those ones which had watercore problems. Then, an image analysis has been done in all these apples, in order to check the evidences of such disorder. Several methods have been used: Texture analysis, Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Cluster AnalysisPeer reviewe

Effectiveness of attachment-based compassion therapy to reduce psychological distress in university students: a randomised controlled trial protocol

IntroductionHigher education, particularly university, is a challenge for many students that can lead to their mental health being seriously affected. The stress to which they are subject throughout their time at university can lead to anxiety and depression. “Third wave” psychotherapies, including compassion-based therapy, have been used to improve psychological outcomes, such as stress, anxiety, emotional distress and well-being. There are some signs that third wave psychotherapies reduce psychological distress in university students, but more and higher-quality studies are needed. In this randomised controlled trial (RCT), we hypothesise that the provision of attachment-based compassion therapy (ABCT) will be more effective than an active control group based on relaxation therapy for improving psychological distress in university students.Methods and analysisA two-arm RCT will be conducted involving 140 university undergraduate and postgraduate students from the University of Zaragoza and the National University of Distance Education (UNED) who reside in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. Interventions with either ABCT or relaxation therapy will be implemented, with an allocation ratio of 1:1 between groups. Both interventions will last six weeks and consist of six weekly group sessions lasting 1.5 h each. Data will be collected before and after the intervention, and there will be a follow-up at six months. The primary outcome will be psychological distress at post-intervention. Secondary outcomes will be depression, anxiety, stress and burnout symptoms, affectivity and emotional regulation. Attachment style, experiential avoidance, compassion (for others/oneself) and mindfulness skills will be measured as potential mechanistic variables. Intention-to-treat analysis will be performed using linear mixed regression models. The clinical significance of improvements will be calculated. Potential side effects will be monitored by an independent clinical psychologist.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Aragón. Participant data will remain anonymous, and results will be submitted to peer-reviewed open-access journals and disseminated via conferences.Clinical Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05197595

Realización de vídeo de enseñanza online y presencial para prácticas por internet y presenciales de la radiografía de muñeca como método para valorar el desarrollo óseo

Se ha realizado un video en el que el alumno visualiza los diferentes estadios de desarrollo que tienen lugar en la osificación de la muñeca y puede aprender cómo utilizar la radiografía de muñeca para determinar el momento de desarrollo del paciente