Implications of Oxidative Stress and Potential Role of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in COVID-19: Therapeutic Effects of Vitamin D

Due to its high degree of contagiousness and like almost no other virus, SARS-CoV-2 has put the health of the world population on alert. COVID-19 can provoke an acute inflammatory process and uncontrolled oxidative stress, which predisposes one to respiratory syndrome, and in the worst case, death. Recent evidence suggests the mechanistic role of mitochondria and vitamin D in the development of COVID-19. Indeed, mitochondrial dynamics contribute to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis, and its uncoupling involves pathological situations. SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with altered mitochondrial dynamics with consequent oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory state, cytokine production, and cell death. Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency seems to be associated with increased COVID-19 risk. In contrast, vitamin D can normalize mitochondrial dynamics, which would improve oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory state, and cytokine production. Furthermore, vitamin D reduces renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system activation and, consequently, decreases ROS generation and improves the prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, the purpose of this review is to deepen the knowledge about the role of mitochondria and vitamin D directly involved in the regulation of oxidative stress and the inflammatory state in SARS-CoV-2 infection. As future prospects, evidence suggests enhancing the vitamin D levels of the world population, especially of those individuals with additional risk factors that predispose to the lethal consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Fil: de Las Heras, Natalia. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Fisiología; EspañaFil: Martín Giménez, Virna Margarita. Universidad Catolica de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas y Tecnologicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Ferder, León. Universidad Maimónides; ArgentinaFil: Manucha, Walter Ariel Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Lahera Juliá, Vicente. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Fisiología; Españ

Melatonin as an Anti-Aging Therapy for Age-Related Cardiovascular and Neurodegenerative Diseases

The concept of “aging” is defined as the set of gradual and progressive changes in an organism that leads to an increased risk of weakness, disease, and death. This process may occur at the cellular and organ level, as well as in the entire organism of any living being. During aging, there is a decrease in biological functions and in the ability to adapt to metabolic stress. General effects of aging include mitochondrial, cellular, and organic dysfunction, immune impairment or inflammaging, oxidative stress, cognitive and cardiovascular alterations, among others. Therefore, one of the main harmful consequences of aging is the development and progression of multiple diseases related to these processes, especially at the cardiovascular and central nervous system levels. Both cardiovascular and neurodegenerative pathologies are highly disabling and, in many cases, lethal. In this context, melatonin, an endogenous compound naturally synthesized not only by the pineal gland but also by many cell types, may have a key role in the modulation of multiple mechanisms associated with aging. Additionally, this indoleamine is also a therapeutic agent, which may be administered exogenously with a high degree of safety. For this reason, melatonin could become an attractive and low-cost alternative for slowing the processes of aging and its associated diseases, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders.Fil: Martín Giménez, Virna Margarita. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Catolica de Cuyo - Sede San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias de la Alimentación, Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: de Las Heras, Natalia. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Fisiología; EspañaFil: Lahera Juliá, Vicente. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Fisiología; EspañaFil: Tresguerrés, Jesús A. F.. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Fisiología; EspañaFil: Reiter, Russel. University of Texas at San Antonio; Estados UnidosFil: Manucha, Walter Ariel Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Farmacología; Argentin

“She is obsessive and he is learning”: imaginaries and material inequality in the sex-affective relationships of members of the university community

Sex-affective relations in the university environment have been studied fundamentally from the perspective of gender violence. There is little evidence of the gender inequalities on which these relationships support. This article seeks to interrogate the economic-material dimension of sex-affective ties. In this sense, it is proposed to analyze the figures under which the imaginary around the management of money and care in the sex-affective relationships of those who participate in the university space (teachers, non-teachers and students) emerge. To answer this question, a qualitative methodology was applied through the in-depth interview technique. From this approach, two large dimensions of analysis were identified. In the first place, the scenes that show the figures and metaphors that the interviewees use about the management of money in the sex-affective bond and the fictions that they recreate in relation to equality. Secondly, we will delve into the effective distribution of home and person care (especially minor children) that occurs in these relationships.Los vínculos sexo-afectivos en el ámbito universitario han sido estudiados fundamentalmente desde la perspectiva de las violencias de género. Existe escasa evidencia sobre las desigualdades de género sobre las cuales estas relaciones de apoyan. Este artículo busca interrogar la dimensión económica-material de los vínculos sexo-afectivos. En este sentido, se propone analizar las figuras bajo las cuales emergen los imaginarios en torno a la gestión del dinero y de los cuidados en las relaciones sexo-afectivas de quienes participan del espacio universitario (docentes, no docentes y estudiantes). Para responder esta pregunta se aplicó la metodología cualitativa, a través de la técnica de entrevistas en profundidad. A partir de este abordaje, se identificaron dos grandes dimensiones de análisis. En primer lugar, las escenas que muestran las figuras y metáforas que usan las personas entrevistadas acerca de la gestión del dinero en el vínculo sexo-afectivo y las ficciones que recrean en relación con la igualdad. En segundo lugar, ahondaremos en la distribución efectiva de los cuidados del hogar y de las personas (en especial, hijos/as menores) que sucede en esas relaciones

Comparación de modelos no lineales para describir curvas de crecimiento del portainjerto limón rugoso (Citrus jambhiri Lush.) bajo condiciones de vivero

This work aimed to find the statistical model that best describes the growth pattern of  Lemon 'Rugoso' rootstock (Citrus jambhir Lusch.) in the nursery up to grafting diameter. Thus, the sowing was carried out in seedlings. 45 days after emerging, the seedlings were transplanted to 5 L pots with a substrate consisting of rice husks (40%), soil (40%), and commercial substrate (20%). Growth variables were evaluated every 30 days. For aerial growth, the following were quantified: neck diameter (DC), number of leaves (CH), stem length (LT), fresh mass of the stem (MFTa), fresh mass of leaves (MFH), dry mass of the stem (MSTa), dry mass of leaves (MSH). Also, root growth through root length (LR), fresh (MFR) and dry root mass (MSR), and total variables: total fresh mass (MFTotal), total dry mass (MSTotal), and full length (LT). To model growth curves, Logistic, Gompertz, and Monomolecular models were tested. The Gompertz model best fitted the rootstock growth over time for the aerial growth variables (except the number of leaves) and for the total variables (except the total length), while the Logistic model was the one that best adjusted the growth of the rootstock based on the time for the root growth variables. It was also suitable for the variables number of leaves and total length due to it presented a lower residual mean square of the error compared to the Logistic, Richards, and Monomolecular models. El objetivo fue encontrar el modelo estadístico que mejor describa el patrón de crecimiento del portainjerto Limón 'Rugoso' (Citrus jambhiri Lusch.) en vivero hasta diámetro de injertación. Para ello se sembró en almácigos y a los 45 días de la emergencia los plantines se trasplantaron a macetas de 5 L con sustrato constituido por cascarilla de arroz (40 %), suelo (40 %), y sustrato comercial (20 %). Se evaluaron variables de crecimiento cada 30 días. Para el crecimiento aéreo se cuantificó: diámetro de cuello (DC); cantidad de hojas (CH), largo del tallo (LT); masa fresca del tallo (MFTa), masa fresca de hojas (MFH), masa seca del tallo (MSTa); masa seca de hojas (MSH).  También el crecimiento de raíz mediante: largo de raíz (LR), masa fresca (MFR) y seca de raíz (MSR), y variables totales: masa fresca total (MFTotal); masa seca total (MSTotal) y largo total (LT). Para modelar las curvas de crecimiento se probaron los modelos Logístico, Gompertz y Monomolecular. El modelo Gompertz fue el que mejor ajustó al crecimiento del portainjerto en el tiempo para las variables de crecimiento aéreo (a excepción del número de hojas) y para las variables totales (a excepción del largo total), mientras que el modelo Logístico fue el que mejor ajustó al crecimiento del portainjerto en función del tiempo para las variables de crecimiento radicular.  También, obtuvo buen ajuste para las variables número de hojas y largo total, debido a que presentó menor cuadrado medio residual del error comparado con los modelos Logístico, Richards y Monomolecular

Inglés específico y desarrollo de destrezas orales en el Grado de Medicina

Memoria ID-0059. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2016-2017

Psychosocial Factors and Chronic Illness as Predictors for Anxiety and Depression in Adolescence

Adolescence is a challenging time when emotional difficulties often arise. Self-esteem, good relationships with peers, and emotional competences can buffer the effects of these difficulties. The difficulties can be even greater when coupled with the presence of a chronic physical illness (CD). Our goal is to analyze psychosocial factors and CD as predictors for anxiety and depression. It was compared the results of structural equation models (SEM) with models based on qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to analyze the possible influence of these variables on levels of anxiety-depression in adolescents with and without CD. The sample consisted of 681 adolescents, between 12 and 16 years old (M = 13.94, SD = 1.32). 61.50% were girls and 13.40% (n = 222) presented a CD (mainly pneumo-allergic and endocrine). They were evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Self-esteem Questionnaire, the Emotional Competences Questionnaire and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The results obtained by SEM show that low self-esteem, problems with peers and low emotional competencies predict anxiety in 41% of the variance and depression in 72%. The results obtained by QCA show that the different combinations of these variables explain between 24 and 61% of low levels of anxiety and depression and 47-55% of high levels. Our data show how the presence of a CD, low self-esteem, problems with peers and problems in emotional skills play a fundamental role in explaining levels of anxiety and depression. These aspects will help provide increased resources for emotional adjustment in the educational context, facilitating the transitions to be made by adolescents

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

Relationship of Weather Types on the Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Rainfall, Runoff, and Sediment Yield in the Western Mediterranean Basin

Rainfall is the key factor to understand soil erosion processes, mechanisms, and rates. Most research was conducted to determine rainfall characteristics and their relationship with soil erosion (erosivity) but there is little information about how atmospheric patterns control soil losses, and this is important to enable sustainable environmental planning and risk prevention. We investigated the temporal and spatial variability of the relationships of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield with atmospheric patterns (weather types, WTs) in the western Mediterranean basin. For this purpose, we analyzed a large database of rainfall events collected between 1985 and 2015 in 46 experimental plots and catchments with the aim to: (i) evaluate seasonal differences in the contribution of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield produced by the WTs; and (ii) to analyze the seasonal efficiency of the different WTs (relation frequency and magnitude) related to rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield. The results indicate two different temporal patterns: the first weather type exhibits (during the cold period: autumn and winter) westerly flows that produce the highest rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield values throughout the territory; the second weather type exhibits easterly flows that predominate during the warm period (spring and summer) and it is located on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. However, the cyclonic situations present high frequency throughout the whole year with a large influence extended around the western Mediterranean basin. Contrary, the anticyclonic situations, despite of its high frequency, do not contribute significantly to the total rainfall, runoff, and sediment (showing the lowest efficiency) because of atmospheric stability that currently characterize this atmospheric pattern. Our approach helps to better understand the relationship of WTs on the seasonal and spatial variability of rainfall, runoff and sediment yield with a regional scale based on the large dataset and number of soil erosion experimental stations