JIEM's third year - Present status and future avenues

This editorial builds upon the guidelines developed by the Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management (JIEM) since its inception (Sallan et al., 2010; Simo et al., 2009; Fernandez et al., 2008) and reflects some relevant information about the evolution of JIEM during 2010, together with novel features that have been implemented so far or which are planned to be realized.Peer Reviewe

Effects of free leucine supplementation and resistance training on muscle strength and functional status in older adults : a randomized controlled trial

To assess the effect of free leucine supplementation combined with resistance training versus resistance training only on muscle strength and functional status in older adults. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study with two intervention groups. Thirty older adults were randomly assigned to receive either 10 g leucine/day (leucine group [LG], n=15) or a placebo (control group [CG], n=15), plus resistance training over a 12-week period. Maximal overcoming isometric leg strength, functional status, nutritional status, body composition, health-related quality of life, depression, and dietary intake were assessed at 4 and 12 weeks. Missing data at 12 weeks were handled using mixed models for repeated measurements for data imputation. Twenty-four subjects completed the 4-week assessment and eleven completed the 12-week intervention. Clinically significant gains were found in isometric leg strength at both assessment time points. Analysis of the effect size also showed how participants in LG outperformed those in CG for chair stands and the timed up and go test. No significant changes were observed for the rest of the outcomes. Our combined analysis showed moderate changes in isometric leg muscle strength and certain components of functional status. The magnitude of changes found on these outcomes should be qualified as a positive effect of the concomitant intervention

An overview of JIEM’s second year, and a prospect of its third

This editorial honors the tradition established in the Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management (JIEM) since its inception, of presenting some relevant information about the evolution of JIEM during 2009, and about the future directions of the journal. We focus on issues concerning the quality of the journal (editorial board and reviewing process), prestige (progress on indexation), social responsibility and financial viability. We also provide information about the future evolution of JIEM, advancing the contents of the special issues planned for 2010 and 2011.Peer Reviewe

Effects of ezetimibe on cholesterol metabolism in HIV-infected patients with protease inhibitor-associated dyslipidemia: a single-arm intervention trial

BACKGROUND: The effects of ezetimibe on cholesterol metabolism in HIV-infected patients receiving boosted protease inhibitors have not been thoroughly assessed. The aim of this study was to assess cholesterol homeostasis in patients with PI associated dyslipidemia and its relationship with the response to treatment with the cholesterol-absorption inhibitor ezetimibe. METHODS: Fifteen patients with ritonavir-boosted PI-containig therapy and LDL-cholesterol > 3.36 mmol/L (>130 mg/dL) were assessed at baseline and after an 8-week course of ezetimibe 10 mg/d. Serum non-cholesterol sterols were measured at each visit as markers of cholesterol synthesis and absorption. Total-, LDL-, and HDL-cholesterol triglycerides, apolipoproteins A1 and B, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, CD4 cells and HIV-1 RNA were also measured. RESULTS: Ezetimibe treatment was well tolerated in all patients and resulted in significant reductions in total cholesterol (-11.4%, p = .002), LDL-cholesterol (-20.4%, p = .003), non-HDL-cholesterol (-13.4%, p = .002) and apolipoprotein B (-9.1%, p = .021). Treatment with ezetimibe was associated with decreased cholesterol absorption markers (campesterol-to-cholesterol ratio -43.0%, p = .001; sitosterol-to-cholesterol ratio -41.9%, p = .001) and increased synthesis markers (lathosterol-to-cholesterol ratio 53.2%, p = .005). Baseline absorption or synthesis markers were unrelated to the response to treatment. CD4 cell count and plasma HIV-1 RNA remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The level of cholesterol absorption or synthesis does not appear to be a major determinant of the responsiveness to ezetimibe in patients on ritonavir-boosted PI-containing therapy

Desenvolupament de metodologies prèvies per a la millora de les sessions presencials

Els objectius principals d’aquest treball s’han dissenyat al voltant d’una voluntat d’augmentar la proximitat entre l’estudiantat i professorat en assignatures de cursos alts de les titulacions d’Enginyeria Industrial, Aeronàutica i en Organització Industrial, i molt especialment per a la titulació d’Enginyeria en Organització Industrial semipresencial. Aquesta proximitat afavoreix l’assoliment dels objectius específics en les diferents matèries associades a aquest projecte, sobretot en aquests moments d’adaptació de les titulacions, en què cal encaixar el paradigma de l’ensenyament-aprenentatge en totes les titulacions que s’imparteixen a la UPC. Així, es podrien recollir els objectius considerats en els punts següents: • Proporcionar a l’estudiantat material docent alternatiu al que s’utilitza habitualment, adaptat a les habilitats d’aprenentatge del nou estudiantat i adient per al desenvolupament d’algunes de les competències genèriques. • Millorar la motivació de l’estudiantat en aquelles matèries que, per continguts o per metodologia convencional, poden resultar poc atraients o poc motivadores. • Crear una xarxa de Canals de video streaming dins de les diferents titulacions impartides actualment a l’ETSEIAT, tot identificant nous entorns de comunicació i nous recursos tecnològics a l’abast de l’estudiantat. • Millora del rendiment acadèmic personal dels estudiants durant les sessions presencials mitjançant la introducció d’un material docent alternatiu.Peer Reviewe

Transversalitat en el disseny curricular del Màster Universitari d'Enginyeria en Organització a l'ETSEIAT

Mitjançant aquest projecte hem creat punts de connexió entre diferents assignatures per augmentar la transversalitat dins el pla d'estudis del Màster Universitari en Enginyeria d’Organització. D’aquesta manera, oferim als estudiants/es la possibilitat de tractar problemes propers a les situacions reals de l'exercici de la seva professió, integrant àmbits i metodologies que prèviament es trobaven dispersos en les diferents assignatures. Com a resultat, hem creat una col·lecció de 18 casos transversals que acompanyen els estudiants/es durant més d’una assignatura. Així, poden analitzar una situació complexa amb diferents metodologies tractades al llarg dels seus estudis i integrar-les tot formant un portafoli docent. Els resultats del projecte faciliten que les assignatures deixin de ser contenidors aïllats (propi de la divisió del coneixement en especialitzats o departaments) per convertir-se en un procés continu i interconnectat de coneixements que els estudiants/es han d’aplicar en diferents moments durant els seus estudis. Els materials didàctics desenvolupats conjuntament per l’equip del projecte, són accessibles a cada assignatura involucrada mitjançant la plataforma docent atenea i estaran publicats al dipòsit UPC Commons a partir de febrer de 2013.Peer Reviewe

Strategies to reengage patients lost to follow up in HIV care in high income countries, a scoping review

Background: Despite remarkable achievements in antiretroviral therapy (ART), losses to follow-up (LTFU) might prevent the long-term success of HIV treatment and might delay the achievement of the 90-90-90 objectives. This scoping review is aimed at the description and analysis of the strategies used in high-income countries to reengage LTFU in HIV care, their implementation and impact. Methods: A scoping review was done following Arksey & O'Malley's methodological framework and recommendations from Joanna Briggs Institute. Peer reviewed articles were searched for in Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science; and grey literature was searched for in Google and other sources of information. Documents were charted according to the information presented on LTFU, the reengagement procedures used in HIV units in high-income countries, published during the last 15 years. In addition, bibliographies of chosen articles were reviewed for additional articles. Results: Twenty-eight documents were finally included, over 80% of them published in the United States later than 2015. Database searches, phone calls and/or mail contacts were the most common strategies used to locate and track LTFU, while motivational interviews and strengths-based techniques were used most often during reengagement visits. Outcomes like tracing activities efficacy, rates of reengagement and viral load reduction were reported as outcome measures. Conclusions: This review shows a recent and growing trend in developing and implementing patient reengagement strategies in HIV care. However, most of these strategies have been implemented in the United States and little information is available for other high-income countries. The procedures used to trace and contact LTFU are similar across reviewed studies, but their impact and sustainability are widely different depending on the country studied

Contribution of Genetic Background, Traditional Risk Factors, and HIV-Related Factors to Coronary Artery Disease Events in HIV-Positive Persons

We show in human immunodeficiency virus-positive persons that the coronary artery disease effect of an unfavorable genetic background is comparable to previous studies in the general population, and comparable in size to traditional risk factors and antiretroviral regimens known to increase cardiovascular ris