Adaptation and psychometric properties of the school engagement and contextual factors questionnaires for Covid-19 and post Covid-19 context

School engagement has been demonstrated to be a relevant aspect in promoting students' successful trajectories, a commitment that in its turn is influenced by contextual factors (family, teachers, and peers). Having instruments to measure these constructs allows decisions to be made to improve student retention, especially relevant in the context of uncertainty caused by covid-19. The aim of the study was to adapt and analyze the psychometric properties of questionnaires used to measure school engagement and contextual factors in the context of the pandemic with elementary school students in Chile. After adaptation of the instruments, through expert evaluation and focus groups with students, they were administered to 579 students in seventh and eighth grade (mean age = 12.79, 52% were boys), and to 334 students in fifth and sixth grade (mean age = 11.35, 38% were boys) in Chile. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the two versions of the school engagement measurement instrument had an adequate fit with the original model of three correlated factors, cognitive, affective, and behavioral commitment. Similarly, these two versions of the instrument measuring the contextual factors had a good fit with the original model of three correlated factors, family, teachers, and peers. In addition, both versions of both questionnaires presented appropriate levels of internal consistency

Online Platform for the Evaluation of School Engagement, Version 3.0: Progress towards a system for the protection of educational trajectories

Este artículo presenta el Sistema Integrado de Evaluación, Seguimiento y Estrategias de Promoción de Compromiso Estudiantil y Factores Contextuales desarrollado en Chile para su uso potencial en escuelas Iberoamericanas. El sistema web ha tenido un desarrollo incremental basado en diversos proyectos de investigación I+D y busca aportar a uno de los retos de América Latina y el Caribe señalado por organismos internacionales, como es avanzar hacia la construcción de sistemas de protección de las trayectorias escolares. Para su realización se implementó una metodología de desarrollo ágil de software que facilita el trabajo colaborativo llamada SCRUM. Entre los principales resultados se encuentra una plataforma con seis pasos que guían su implementación con recursos de apoyo gráficos y audiovisuales, cuyo potencial de uso es de alto interés para las escuelas en términos de diagnóstico, monitoreo e intervención. Dado que el concepto de compromiso escolar ha adquirido mayor relevancia producto de las consecuencias que tuvo la pandemia del COVID 19, todo el sistema fue ajustado para un contexto de clases presenciales o remotas. El desafío pendiente es la consolidación de esta plataforma en la política educativa nacional para facilitar su uso y masificación.This article presents the results of the development and incremental validation of the Integrated System of Evaluation, Monitoring and Strategies for the Promotion of School Engagement and Contextual Factors developed in Chile for its potential use in Ibero-America. The web-based system has had an incremental development based on various R&D research projects and aims to contribute to one of the challenges of Latin America and the Caribbean indicated by international organizations, which is to advance towards the construction of protection systems for school paths. For its realization, an agile software development methodology called SCRUM was carried out that facilitates collaborative work between teams. The main results are a platform of high interest to schools with six steps that guides its implementation with audiovisual support resources. Given that the concept of school engagement has acquired greater relevance because of the consequences of the COVID 19 pandemic, the entire system was adjusted for a context of either face-to-face or remote classes. The current challenge is the consolidation of this platform in the national educational policy to facilitate its use and massification.FONDEF IT 19I0012ANID / FONDECYT 121017

Gender differences in body image and its relevance in body weight control

La adolescencia es la etapa más vulnerable para la aparición de problemas relacionados con la imagen corporal. Este estudio examinó las diferencias entre chicos y chicas adolescentes (13-18 años) en el Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC), la percepción y satisfacción con la imagen corporal, y hacer dieta para perder peso. Los resultados muestran que las chicas, a pesar de presentar menor sobrepeso y obesidad que los chicos varones, estaban más insatisfechas con su imagen corporal, se percibían más gordas y tendían a realizar dietas para controlar su peso con mayor frecuencia que los chicos. Por otro lado, tanto en chicos como en chicas, la percepción corporal tomó mayor importancia a la hora de predecir la conducta de hacer dieta que la adecuación del peso en base al IMC. Además, en las chicas, la satisfacción corporal se colocaba también por delante del IMC en dicha predicción. Los resultados de este estudio ponen de relieve la importancia de tener en cuenta las percepciones de los adolescentes sobre su imagen corporal a la hora de diseñar, desarrollar e implantar programas de intervención destinados a la prevención y tratamiento de trastornos alimenticios. Así mismo, las diferencias de género encontradas, apuntan a la necesidad de tener en cuenta las distintas percepciones de chicas y chicos para aumentar las probabilidades de éxito de las intervenciones.Adolescence is the most vulnerable stage for the emergence of body image issues. This study examined the differences between boys and girls (ranging from 13 to 18 years old) in Body Mass Index (BMI), perception of and satisfaction with their body image, and dieting to lose weight. The results show that girls, although being less overweight and obese than boys, were more dissatisfied with their body image, had a greater perception of obesity, and tended to diet to control their weight with greater frequency. In both groups, body image perception was more relevant than the adjusted bodyweight calculated by BMI in predicting behaviour regarding dieting to lose weight. Furthermore, body image satisfaction was also more relevant than BMI in predicting dieting in girls. The results highlight the importance of taking into account adolescents' perceptions of their body image when designing, developing, and implementing intervention programs aimed at the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. Moreover, the gender differences found imply the need to take into account the differing perceptions of boys and girls to improve the likelihood of success of interventions

Inventario florístico del Área Natural Protegida Parque Nacional El Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México

Background and Aims: Mexico presents a great diversity of vascular flora given its geographical, orographic and climatic conformation. However, many sites have incomplete or non-existent floristic inventories. This is the case of El Potosí National Park Protected Natural Area, which despite having been established in 1936, lacks an updated inventory of its vascular flora. The objective of this work was to obtain such inventory, as a reference of temperate forests in the Sierra Madre Oriental. Endemic species to Mexico and San Luis Potosí and adjacent regions are highlighted, as well as those in some category of risk. Methods: Botanical collections were made in a gradient from 1800 to 2390 m a.s.l., between June 2017 and September 2018. Data about the habitat, phenology and growth form were recorded. The taxonomic biodiversity index in the studied area was compared with other temperate forest regions in the state of San Luis Potosí. Key results: A total of 354 species of vascular plants are registered, of 228 genera in 83 families. The families with the highest species richness are Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Lamiaceae and Polypodiaceae. The taxonomic biodiversity in the area is similar to those reported for other regions with temperate forests in San Luis Potosí. The area includes 99 endemic species to Mexico, and six exclusive of San Luis Potosí and adjacent areas. In addition, six species are listed in some risk category according to NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, 16 in the CITES appendices and 14 in some risk category of the Red List of the IUCN. Conclusions: The species richness, its endemism and diversity, as well as the presence of threatened species, highlights the importance of the Parque Nacional El Potosí as priority region for the conservation of the temperate forest in the Sierra Madre Oriental.Antecedentes y Objetivos: México presenta gran diversidad de flora vascular dada su conformación geográfica, orográfica y climática. Sin embargo, muchos sitios tienen inventarios florísticos incompletos o inexistentes. Es el caso del Área Natural Protegida Parque Nacional El Potosí que, a pesar de ser establecido en 1936, carece de un inventario actualizado de su flora vascular. El objetivo de este trabajo fue generar dicho inventario como un referente de los bosques templados en la Sierra Madre Oriental. Se resaltan las especies endémicas para México, para el estado de San Luis Potosí y regiones adyacentes, así como aquellas que se encuentran en alguna categoría de riesgo. Métodos: Se condujeron recolectas botánicas en un gradiente de 1800 a 2390 m s.n.m., entre junio 2017 y septiembre 2018. Además, se tomaron datos sobre el hábitat, fenología y forma de crecimiento, y se comparó el índice de biodiversidad taxonómica del área de estudio respecto a otras regiones con bosques templados en el estado de San Luis Potosí. Resultados clave: Se registran 354 especies de plantas vasculares en 228 géneros de 83 familias. Las familias con mayor riqueza de especies son Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Lamiaceae y Polypodiaceae. La biodiversidad taxonómica del área es similar a la reportada en otras regiones con bosques templados en San Luis Potosí. El área incluye 99 especies endémicas de México, seis exclusivas de San Luis Potosí y zonas adyacentes, además de seis especies bajo alguna categoría de riesgo según la NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, 16 dentro de los apéndices de la CITES y 14 en alguna categoría de riesgo en la Lista Roja de la IUCN. Conclusiones: La riqueza de especies, su endemismo y diversidad, además de la presencia de especies amenazadas, resaltan la importancia que tiene el Parque Nacional El Potosí como región prioritaria para la conservación de los bosques templados en la Sierra Madre Oriental

Anti‑inflammatory drugs and uterine cervical cancer cells: Antineoplastic effect of meclofenamic acid

Uterine cervical cancer (UCC) is one of the main causes of cancer-associated mortality in women. Inflammation has been identified as an important component of this neoplasia; in this context, anti-inflammatory drugs represent possible prophylactic and/or therapeutic alternatives that require further investigation. Anti-inflammatory drugs are common and each one may exhibit a different antineoplastic effect. As a result, the present study investigated different anti-inflammatory models of UCC in vitro and in vivo. Celecoxib, sulindac, nimesulide, dexamethasone, meclofenamic acid, flufenamic acid and mefenamic acid were tested in UCC HeLa, VIPA, INBL and SiHa cell lines. The cytotoxicity of the drugs was evaluated in vitro. Celecoxib, sulindac, nimesulide, mefenamic acid and flufenamic acid presented with slight to moderate toxicity (10–40% of cell death corresponding to 100 µM) in certain cell lines, while meclofenamic acid exhibited significant cytotoxicity in all essayed cell lines (50–90% of cell death corresponding to 100 µM). The meclofenamic acid was tested in murine models (immunodeficient and immunocompetent) of UCC, which manifested a significant reduction in tumor growth and increased mouse survival. It was demonstrated that of the evaluated anti-inflammatory drugs, meclofenamic acid was the most cytotoxic, with a significant antitumor effect in murine models. Subsequent studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical utility of this drug

Práctica tipo "descubrimiento" sobre la propagación de la luz láser

Memoria ID-120. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2018-2019

Long-Term Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Ustekinumab in Crohn’s Disease Patients: The SUSTAIN Study

Background Large real-world-evidence studies are required to confirm the durability of response, effectiveness, and safety of ustekinumab in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients in real-world clinical practice. Methods A retrospective, multicentre study was conducted in Spain in patients with active CD who had received ≥1 intravenous dose of ustekinumab for ≥6 months. Primary outcome was ustekinumab retention rate; secondary outcomes were to identify predictive factors for drug retention, short-term remission (week 16), loss of response and predictive factors for short-term efficacy and loss of response, and ustekinumab safety. Results A total of 463 patients were included. Mean baseline Harvey-Bradshaw Index was 8.4. A total of 447 (96.5%) patients had received prior biologic therapy, 141 (30.5%) of whom had received ≥3 agents. In addition, 35.2% received concomitant immunosuppressants, and 47.1% had ≥1 abdominal surgery. At week 16, 56% had remission, 70% had response, and 26.1% required dose escalation or intensification; of these, 24.8% did not subsequently reduce dose. After a median follow-up of 15 months, 356 (77%) patients continued treatment. The incidence rate of ustekinumab discontinuation was 18% per patient-year of follow-up. Previous intestinal surgery and concomitant steroid treatment were associated with higher risk of ustekinumab discontinuation, while a maintenance schedule every 12 weeks had a lower risk; neither concomitant immunosuppressants nor the number of previous biologics were associated with ustekinumab discontinuation risk. Fifty adverse events were reported in 39 (8.4%) patients; 4 of them were severe (2 infections, 1 malignancy, and 1 fever). Conclusions Ustekinumab is effective and safe as short- and long-term treatment in a refractory cohort of CD patients in real-world clinical practice

Effect of viral storm in patients admitted to intensive care units with severe COVID-19 in Spain: a multicentre, prospective, cohort study

Background: The contribution of the virus to the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19 is still unclear. We aimed to evaluate associations between viral RNA load in plasma and host response, complications, and deaths in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Methods: We did a prospective cohort study across 23 hospitals in Spain. We included patients aged 18 years or older with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who were admitted to an intensive care unit between March 16, 2020, and Feb 27, 2021. RNA of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid region 1 (N1) was quantified in plasma samples collected from patients in the first 48 h following admission, using digital PCR. Patients were grouped on the basis of N1 quantity: VIR-N1-Zero ([removed]2747 N1 copies per mL). The primary outcome was all-cause death within 90 days after admission. We evaluated odds ratios (ORs) for the primary outcome between groups using a logistic regression analysis. Findings: 1068 patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 117 had insufficient plasma samples and 115 had key information missing. 836 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 403 (48%) were in the VIR-N1-Low group, 283 (34%) were in the VIR-N1-Storm group, and 150 (18%) were in the VIR-N1-Zero group. Overall, patients in the VIR-N1-Storm group had the most severe disease: 266 (94%) of 283 patients received invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), 116 (41%) developed acute kidney injury, 180 (65%) had secondary infections, and 148 (52%) died within 90 days. Patients in the VIR-N1-Zero group had the least severe disease: 81 (54%) of 150 received IMV, 34 (23%) developed acute kidney injury, 47 (32%) had secondary infections, and 26 (17%) died within 90 days (OR for death 0·30, 95% CI 0·16–0·55; p<0·0001, compared with the VIR-N1-Storm group). 106 (26%) of 403 patients in the VIR-N1-Low group died within 90 days (OR for death 0·39, 95% CI 0·26–0·57; p[removed]11 página

Using Interpretable Machine Learning to Identify Baseline Predictive Factors of Remission and Drug Durability in Crohn’s Disease Patients on Ustekinumab

Ustekinumab has shown efficacy in Crohn's Disease (CD) patients. To identify patient profiles of those who benefit the most from this treatment would help to position this drug in the therapeutic paradigm of CD and generate hypotheses for future trials. The objective of this analysis was to determine whether baseline patient characteristics are predictive of remission and the drug durability of ustekinumab, and whether its positioning with respect to prior use of biologics has a significant effect after correcting for disease severity and phenotype at baseline using interpretable machine learning. Patients' data from SUSTAIN, a retrospective multicenter single-arm cohort study, were used. Disease phenotype, baseline laboratory data, and prior treatment characteristics were documented. Clinical remission was defined as the Harvey Bradshaw Index <= 4 and was tracked longitudinally. Drug durability was defined as the time until a patient discontinued treatment. A total of 439 participants from 60 centers were included and a total of 20 baseline covariates considered. Less exposure to previous biologics had a positive effect on remission, even after controlling for baseline disease severity using a non-linear, additive, multivariable model. Additionally, age, body mass index, and fecal calprotectin at baseline were found to be statistically significant as independent negative risk factors for both remission and drug survival, with further risk factors identified for remission