Viejas aunque “nuevas” metodologías de enseñanza-aprendizaje: los talleres de experimentación lítica prehistórica como herramienta de formación

Explicar y comprender la Historia de la Humanidad requiere conocer cómo y qué herramientas se fueron elaborando a lo largo de más de 2,5 millones de años. Una parte importante de dichos instrumentos se fabricaron durante la Prehistoria usando diferentes tipos de rocas. Así, entre los contenidos curriculares incluidos en los grados en Historia y en másteres afines en España, destacan diversas nociones sobre tecnología e instrumental lítico prehistórico, con los que se intenta que el alumnado conozca los procesos de producción lítica tallada, su evolución tecnológica y tipológica, y los procesos de clasificación y análisis. El empleo de material gráfico como recurso docente, se viene mostrando insuficiente para conseguir buenos resultados de aprendizaje. El desarrollo de talleres de experimentación lítica tallada sobre instrumental prehistórico constituye la mejor metodología de enseñanza-aprendizaje con la que mostrar e interactuar con los estudiantes, aunque dicha actividad requiere de una serie de condiciones de difícil consecución. La experiencia llevada a cabo en asignaturas del Grado en Historia y del Máster en Arqueología Profesional y Gestión del Patrimonio de la UA, es un claro ejemplo de evaluación de las fortalezas y debilidades de la implementación de dichos talleres

Elementos críticos en el entorno preoperatorio pediátrico: ¿Claves en la Seguridad?

La anestesiología moderna es una ciencia basada en la seguridad del paciente, adquiriendo ésta cada vez mayor relevancia. La velocidad de la comunicación, el advenimiento de las redes sociales y la torrencial cantidad de información en internet han promovido un paciente cada vez más enterado de su problema médico y una sociedad poco dispuesta a tolerar errores. Uno de los aspectos fundamentales de esta evolución se ve reflejada en la creciente importancia otorgada a la seguridad del paciente, y la responsabilidad del anestesiólogo como principal garante de este derecho. En este sentido, se han establecido múltiples guías y documentos que estratifican los riesgos evitables, tanto de manera generalizada como en subespecialidades de la anestesia y que ayudan al anestesiólogo a realizar su trabajo con las máximas garantías de seguridad. El artículo analizado define claramente los elementos críticos a tener en cuenta para minimizar los riesgos específicos en el entorno perioperatorio pediátrico basados en la última evidencia disponible de alta calidad

PP2A ligand ITH12246 protects against memory impairment and focal cerebral ischemia in mice

ITH12246 (ethyl 5-amino-2-methyl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydrobenzo[b][1,8] naphthyridine-3-carboxylate) is a 1,8-naphthyridine described to feature an interesting neuroprotective profile in in vitro models of Alzheimer's disease. These effects were proposed to be due in part to a regulatory action on protein phosphatase 2A inhibition, as it prevented binding of its inhibitor okadaic acid. We decided to investigate the pharmacological properties of ITH12246, evaluating its ability to counteract the memory impairment evoked by scopolamine, a muscarinic antagonist described to promote memory loss, as well as to reduce the infarct volume in mice suffering phototrombosis. Prior to conducting these experiments, we confirmed its in vitro neuroprotective activity against both oxidative stress and Ca2+ overload-derived excitotoxicity, using SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and rat hippocampal slices. Using a predictive model of blood-brain barrier crossing, it seems that the passage of ITH12246 is not hindered. Its potential hepatotoxicity was observed only at very high concentrations, from 0.1 mM. ITH12246, at the concentration of 10 mg/kg i.p., was able to improve the memory index of mice treated with scopolamine, from 0.22 to 0.35, in a similar fashion to the well-known Alzheimer's disease drug galantamine 2.5 mg/kg. On the other hand, ITH12246, at the concentration of 2.5 mg/kg, reduced the phototrombosis-triggered infarct volume by 67%. In the same experimental conditions, 15 mg/kg melatonin, used as control standard, reduced the infarct volume by 30%. All of these findings allow us to consider ITH12246 as a new potential drug for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, which would act as a multifactorial neuroprotectant.Peer Reviewe

"Invisible burials" and fragmentation practices in Iron Age Europe:Excavations at the Monte Bernorio Necropolis (Northern Spain)

The scarcity of burial remains in large parts of Iron Age Europe, particularly in the Atlantic regions, has often led scholars to discuss the apparent “invisibility” of graves. This paper presents the results from several excavation campaigns at Monte Bernorio, one of the most important sites of the 1st millennium b.c. on the Iberian Peninsula. The fieldwork and post-excavation work carried out in the area of the necropolis have identified numerous burial pits, with complex ritual activities characterized by fragmentation and the practice of the pars pro toto. In addition, evidence for later rituals in some of the graves can be linked to ancestor worship. The results provide important insights into funerary practices in Late Iron Age Europe, leading us to rethink the very meaning of cemeteries in the study area and beyond.- Burial Traditions in Iron Age Europe - The Monte Bernorio Archaeological Zone - The 2007–2008 Necropolis Excavations - The 2015–2016 Necropolis Excavations - Post-Excavation Work and Interpretation: The Faunal and Human Remains - Structure and Chronology of Monte Bernorio Area 7 - Destruction of the Body, Commemoration in the Absence of a Corpse, and Visibility of the Mortuary Rite

Red en cultura material prehistórica: talleres de experimentación lítica en titulaciones de la UA

Una parte muy importante de las herramientas que fueron elaborando los seres humanos a lo largo de más de 2,5 millones de años se fabricaron durante la Prehistoria usando diferentes tipos de rocas. Entre los contenidos curriculares de los grados en Historia en España y en másteres afines, destacan diversas nociones sobre tecnología e instrumental lítico prehistórico, para que el alumnado conozca los procesos de producción lítica tallada, su evolución tecnológica y tipológica, y los procesos de clasificación y análisis. A pesar del creciente empleo de material gráfico como recurso docente, la metodología de clase teórica/participativa se muestra insuficiente a la hora de conseguir buenos resultados de aprendizaje. El desarrollo de talleres de experimentación lítica tallada sobre instrumental prehistórico permite el aprendizaje mediante la interacción y una mejor asimilación por parte de los estudiantes. La experiencia de las asignaturas del Grado en Historia y del Máster en Arqueología Profesional y Gestión del Patrimonio de la UA es un ejemplo de evaluación de las fortalezas y debilidades del desarrollo de dichos talleres

Tropoelastin: an in vivo imaging marker of dysfunctional matrix turnover during abdominal aortic dilation

International audienceAims: Dysfunctional matrix turnover is present at sites of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and leads to the accumulationof monomeric tropoelastin rather than cross-linked elastin. We used a gadolinium-based tropoelastin-specific magneticresonance contrast agent (Gd-TESMA) to test whether quantifying regional tropoelastin turnover correlateswith aortic expansion in a murine model. The binding of Gd-TESMA to excised human AAA was also assessed.....................................................................................................................................................................................................Methods and results:We utilized the angiotensin II (Ang II)-infused apolipoprotein E gene knockout (ApoE-/-) murine model of aortic dilationand performed in vivo imaging of tropoelastin by administering Gd-TESMA followed by late gadolinium enhancement(LGE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and T1 mapping at 3 T, with subsequent ex vivo validation. In across-sectional study (n = 66; control = 11, infused = 55) we found that Gd-TESMA enhanced MRI was elevated andconfined to dilated aortic segments (control: LGE=0.13 ± 0.04mm2, control R1= 1.1 ± 0.05 s-1 vs. dilated LGE=1.0 ± 0.4mm2, dilated R1 =2.4 ± 0.9 s-1) and was greater in segments with medium (8.0 ± 3.8mm3) and large(10.4 ± 4.1mm3) compared to small (3.6 ± 2.1mm3) vessel volume. Furthermore, a proof-of-principle longitudinalstudy (n = 19) using Gd-TESMA enhanced MRI demonstrated a greater proportion of tropoelastin: elastin expressionin dilating compared to non-dilating aortas, which correlated with the rate of aortic expansion. Treatment withpravastatin and aspirin (n = 10) did not reduce tropoelastin turnover (0.87 ± 0.3mm2 vs. 1.0 ± 0.44mm2) or aorticdilation (4.86 ± 2.44mm3 vs. 4.0 ± 3.6mm3). Importantly, Gd-TESMA-enhanced MRI identified accumulation of tropoelastinin excised human aneurysmal tissue (n = 4), which was confirmed histologically.....................................................................................................................................................................................................Conclusion: Tropoelastin MRI identifies dysfunctional matrix remodelling that is specifically expressed in regions of aortic aneurysmor dissection and correlates with the development and rate of aortic expansion. Thus, it may provide an additiveimaging marker to the serial assessment of luminal diameter for surveillance of patients at risk of or with establishedaortopathy

El puñal bidiscoidal peninsular: tipología y relación con el puñal militar romano (<i>pugio</i>)

The hypothesis that considered the Celtiberian Iron Age «bidiscoidal» type dagger (also traditionally known as «doubleglobular» or «biglobular») as the prototype of the &lt;i&gt;pugio&lt;/i&gt;, or dagger used by the Roman legionaires since the Late Republic, was put forward by specialists as early as the begining of the 20th century. The main purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of the «bidiscoidal» dagger and of its evolution. Our second objective, derived from the first, is to prove the filiation of the Roman legionary dagger (&lt;i&gt;pugio&lt;/i&gt;) as an evolution of the Celtiberian prototype.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;La historiografía de principios del s. XX recogía ya la teoría que relacionaba el puñal «bidiscoidal» (tradicionalmente denominado «dobleglobular» o «biglobular») característico de la cultura celtibérica del Hierro II, con el &lt;i&gt;pugio&lt;/i&gt;, puñal usado por los legionarios romanos al menos desde el fin de la República. La razón estriba en la evidente similitud tipológica, en concepción general y detalles, entre ambos tipos. El objetivo principal de este trabajo es presentar un análisis del puñal bidiscoidal y su evolución a caballo entre ambos universos, celtibérico y romano. Secundariamente, demostrar la filiación entre ambas armas: el origen celtibérico del puñal romano legionario (&lt;i&gt;pugio&lt;/i&gt;)

Undifferentiated and differentiated PC12 cells protected by huprines against injury induced by hydrogen peroxide

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) plays a central role in the stress. Huprines, a group of potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), have shown a broad cholinergic pharmacological profile. Recently, it has been observed that huprine X (HX) improves cognition in non transgenic middle aged mice and shows a neuroprotective activity (increased synaptophysin expression) in 3xTg-AD mice. Consequently, in the present experiments the potential neuroprotective effect of huprines (HX, HY, HZ) has been analyzed in two different in vitro conditions: undifferentiated and NGF-differentiated PC12 cells. Cells were subjected to oxidative insult (H2O2, 200 µM) and the protective effects of HX, HY and HZ (0.01 µM- 1 µM) were analyzed after a pre-incubation period of 24 and 48 hours. All huprines showed protective effects in both undifferentiated and NGF-differentiated cells, however only in differentiated cells the effect was dependent on cholinergic receptors as atropine (muscarinic antagonist, 0.1 µM) and mecamylamine (nicotinic antagonist, 100 µM) reverted the neuroprotection action of huprines. The decrease in SOD activity observed after oxidative insult was overcome in the presence of huprines and this effect was not mediated by muscarinic or nicotinic receptors. In conclusion, huprines displayed neuroprotective properties as previously observed in in vivo studies. In addition, these effects were mediated by cholinergic receptors only in differentiated cells. However, a non-cholinergic mechanism, probably through an increase in SOD activity, seems to be also involved in the neuroprotective effects of huprines