Enterramientos infantiles en el oppidum de El Molón (Camporrobles, Valencia)

Se analizan las inhumaciones perinatales identificadas en el oppidum de El Molón. Se trata de tres enterramientos, uno de ellos doble, probablemente gemelar, procedentes de espacios domésticos o áreas de producción, en algún caso con presencia de ajuar. Se fechan hacia el siglo II a.C.This article analyzes three perinatal burials from the oppidum of El Molón. One of them was double and probably a twin pregnancy. The burials seem to be originally from domestic spaces and production areas, in some cases they were found in the presence of funeral offerings. The burials are dated in around the second century BC

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in diabetes and dyslipidemia management in a Spanish region: a retrospective study of the Aragon population

IntroductionPrevious research has indicated that the COVID-19 outbreak had a negative impact on the diagnosis and management of cardiometabolic diseases. Our aim was to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the Aragon region of Spain.MethodsWe conducted an observational retrospective study, which included data from all patients diagnosed with active T2D or dyslipidemia in Aragon during 2019–2021. Data was collected from the BIGAN platform, a big database that includes all healthcare data from the Aragon population. Clinical, biochemical, and pharmacological prescription information was obtained for each patient and for each year.ResultsOut of the total population of 1,330,000 in the Aragon region, 90,000 subjects were diagnosed with T2D each year, resulting in a prevalence of approximately 7%. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a decrease in the prevalence of this disease and a lower incidence during the year 2020. In addition, patients with T2D experienced a deterioration of their glucose profile, which led to an increase in the number of patients requiring pharmacological therapy. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was approximately 23.5% in both 2019 and 2020 and increased to 24.5% in 2021. Despite the worsening of the anthropometric profile, the lipid profile improved significantly throughout 2020 and 2021 compared to 2019. Moreover, the number of active pharmacological prescriptions increased significantly in 2021.DiscussionOur findings suggest that the overload of the health system caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an underdiagnosis of T2D. Moreover, patients with T2D experienced a worsening of their glycemic profile, an increase in their pharmacological requirements, and lower performance of their analytical determinations. Dyslipidemic subjects improved their lipid profile although the value of lipid profile determination decreased between 2020 and 2021

Ischemic aetiology, self-reported frailty, and gender with respect to cognitive impairment in chronic heart failure patients

Background: decisive information on the parameters involved in cognitive impairment in patients with chronic heart failure is as yet lacking. Our aim was to determine the functional and psychosocial variables related with cognitive impairment using the mini-mental-state examination (MMSE) with age-and education-corrected scores. Methods: a cohort study of chronic heart failure patients included in an integrated multidisciplinary hospital/primary care program. The MMSE (corrected for age and education in the Spanish population) was administered at enrolment in the program. Analyses were performed in 525 patients. Demographic and clinical variables were collected. Comprehensive assessment included depression (Yesavage), family function (family APGAR), social network (Duke), dependence (Barthel Index), frailty (Barber), and comorbidities. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to determine the predictors of cognitive impairment. Results: cognitive impairment affected 145 patients (27.6 %). Explanatory factors were gender (OR: 2.77 (1.75-4.39) p  3.5 (OR: 0.59 (0.35-0.99) p = 0.048), and beta-blocker treatment (OR: 0.36 (0.17 to 0.76, p = 0.007)). No association was found between cognitive impairment and social support or family function. Conclusion: the observed prevalence of cognitive impairment using MMSE corrected scores was 27.6 %. A global approach in the management of these patients is needed, especially focusing on women and patients with frailty, low albumin levels, and ischemic aetiology heart failure

Prevalence of falls in noninstitutionalized people aged 65-80 and associations with sex and functional tests: a multicenter observational study

Falls have a considerable impact on the functional prognosis of older adults. The main focus of this multicenter, retrospective, observational study was to xamine the prevalence of falls in Spanish people aged 65-80 years still living at home. The secondary aims included examining the overall sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with a history of falls and then stratifying these findings by sex. We also aimed to determine the differences between sexes with regard to the history and consequences of falls and to evaluate associations between fall history and functional performance tests. The 747 older adults had all participated in the otago exercise program, which is a progressive home program of strength, balance, and endurance exercises. They were recruited by nurses in 21 primary care centers in 10 Spanish provinces between September 2017 to December 2018. The participants' mean age was 72.2 (SD: 4.3) years, and 67% were women. We recorded sociodemographic and clinical variables, functional performance test results, and any falls and/or injuries in the last 12 months. We found that 32% had fallen, 36% of those had fallen more than once, and 48% had sustained injuries when they fell. The bivariate analysis showed that women had more than twice the odds of falling than men and that living alone and being obese or overweight increased the odds of a fall, although living alone was not associated with falls in the multivariable analysis. Our results could guide the development of risk-specific fall prevention programs to prevent disabilities in older people.Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia, Grant/Award Numbers: CARM, FFIS17/AP/02/ 04; European Regional Development Fund, Grant/Award Number: A way to make Europe; Basque Country, Grant/Award Number: 2016111005; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Grant/Award Numbers: PI16/00821, PI16/01042, PI16/01159, PI16/01312, PI16/01316, PI16/01520, PI16/01649, PI16CIII/0003

Ischemic aetiology, self-reported frailty, and gender with respect to cognitive impairment in chronic heart failure patients

Decisive information on the parameters involved in cognitive impairment in patients with chronic heart failure is as yet lacking. Our aim was to determine the functional and psychosocial variables related with cognitive impairment using the mini-mental-state examination (MMSE) with age-and education-corrected scores. A cohort study of chronic heart failure patients included in an integrated multidisciplinary hospital/primary care program. The MMSE (corrected for age and education in the Spanish population) was administered at enrolment in the program. Analyses were performed in 525 patients. Demographic and clinical variables were collected. Comprehensive assessment included depression (Yesavage), family function (family APGAR), social network (Duke), dependence (Barthel Index), frailty (Barber), and comorbidities. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to determine the predictors of cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment affected 145 patients (27.6 %). Explanatory factors were gender (OR: 2.77 (1.75-4.39) p 3.5 (OR: 0.59 (0.35-0.99) p = 0.048), and beta-blocker treatment (OR: 0.36 (0.17 to 0.76, p = 0.007)). No association was found between cognitive impairment and social support or family function. The observed prevalence of cognitive impairment using MMSE corrected scores was 27.6 %. A global approach in the management of these patients is needed, especially focusing on women and patients with frailty, low albumin levels, and ischemic aetiology heart failure

Siege weapon at the Castle of Chinchilla (Albacete) during the War of Independence: artillery and hand grenades

El hallazgo de un conjunto de granadas de vidrio y algunas piezas de artillería en las excavaciones del Castillo de Chinchilla permite acercarse, desde la Arqueología, al episodio más importante de la Guerra de la Independencia en la actual provincia de Albacete. Su estudio conjunto proporciona información sobre las tácticas utilizadas en los sitios de plazas fuertes durante la contienda.The discovery of a set of glass grenades and some pieces of artillery in the excavations of the Castle of Chinchilla allows an approach, from an archaeological perspective, to the most important episode of the War of Independence in the territory of the present day province of Albacete. Their joint study provides specific data on the defensive and offensive military siege tactics during the conflict.Este trabajo se ha realizado dentro del marco del proyecto del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad HAR2013-41447-P “El Bronce Final y la Edad del Hierro en el Sureste y el Levante de la Península Ibérica: procesos hacia la urbanización”

Análisis funcional de dos β-galactosidasas de Cicer arietinum (βI-Gal y βV-Gal) y tres β-galactosidasas de la subfamilia a1 de Arabidopsis thaliana (BGAL1, BGAL3 y BGAL5) y sus efectos en la estructura de la pared celular 2016 María Moneo

[ES] El trabajo trata de determinar la función de dos miembros de la subfamilia de B-galactosidasas de garbanzo (BI y BV-Gal) y de tres de la subfamilia a1 de Arabidopsis thaliana (BGAL1, BGAL3 y BGAL5) estableciendo cómo actuan en la pared celular y las posibles alteraciones que orovocan su ausencia (mutantes nulos) y su sobreexpresión (plantas transgénicas que las sobreproducen). Además, se intentará producirlas en un sistema heterólogo en gran cantidad y forma activa de forma de que se puedan llevar a cabo estudios de especificidad de sustrato. En la primera parte se lleva a cabo un estudio funcional de las proteínas de garbanzo en arabidopsis. La proteína BI-Gal se localiza en la pared celular tras analizar la localización subcelular de la proteína fusionada a eGFP. Después mediante 4 técnicas fundamentales se estudia la composición de pared celular en plántulas enteras y diferentes órganos de plántula y planta adulta que no presentan alteraciones morfológicas al compararlas con el WT. 1- El estudio mediante FTIR de las paredes celulares de plántulas de 3 días se combinó con un estudio de análisis principales que mostró variaciones en los niveles de HG, galactosa, ramnosa y arabinosa en las plantas transgénicas en comparación del WT. 2 y 3-Se extrajeron 3 fracciones polisacarídicas de las paredes celulares con composición diferente, estando enriquecidas en pectinas y hemicelulosas. Los polímeros presentes en cada una de ellas se detectaron por ELISA y EDC utilizando una batería de anticuerpos espefíficos frente a polisacáridos de pared celular. Como se observa en el ELISA, el impacto de la sobreproducción de las proteínas es más visible en el caso de las plantas que sobreproducen BI-Gal, aunque de manera general se observan disminuciones en los niveles de galactano que dependiendo del órgano, se compensa por variaciones en los niveles de otros polisacáridos pécticos y hemicelulósicos. Por otro lado, el EDC permite confirmar estas variaciones y además muestra cambios muy significativos en los niveles de XG y xilanos, sobre todo en el entrenudo basal del tallo floral. 4-La inmunolocalización de los epítopos en secciones transvesales de algunos órganos permite observar reducciones en el galactano especialmente en el parénquima medular y las fibras interfasciculares del entrenudo más basal del tallo floral. Se concluye en este apartado que la sobreproducción de estas B-galactosidasas reduce las cadenas laterales de azúcares neutros y esto provoca a su vez una modificación en la solublización del XG. Las diferencias entre las plantas que sobreproducen la BI- y BV-Gal podría deberse a la presencia de un dominio lectina en la BI-Gal. En el segundo apartado se analiza la variación que produce la aplicación de factores que modulan el crecimiento en los niveles de transcrito de la subfamilia a1, centrándose en las proteínas BGAL1, BGAL3 y BGAL5 que se localizan en la pared celular. Aplicando las mismas técnicas que en el apartado anterior se observa que en el hipocotilo del doble mutante bgal1/bgal3 el incremento de galactano y HG podría contribuir al menor crecimiento en el doble mutante nulo. También el incremento en galactano se localiza en la apidermis de este órgano, pudiendo ser otra de las razones para que se produzca este menor crecimiento, ya que controla la elongación del hipocotilo. Resultados similares se observan en hojas y raíces. Es interesante señalar que en el entrenudo apical, que también muestra diferencias en el crecimiento del doble mutante aparecen aumentos muy significativos en el nivel de XG, lo que pone de manifiesto la importancia de las cadenas laterales de azúcares neutros en la relación entre hemicelulosas y celulosas. Por último, se estudian las alteraciones que produce la sobreexpresión de las proteínas BGAL1, BGAL3 y BGAL5 en arabidopsis. En el entrenudo basal del tallo floral de estas plantas transgénicas se ve una menor representación de galactano en difernetes tipos celulares. En el último apartado, se pone a punto un sistema de producción de B-galactosidasas mediante la expresión transitoria de las ORFs que las codifican en hojas de Nicotiana benthamiana. Este sistema permite la obtención de grandes cantidades de proteína que fueron activas frente al sustrato artificial pnp-B-D-galactopiranosido

Subcellular location of Arabidopsis thaliana subfamily a1 β-galactosidases and developmental regulation of transcript levels of their coding genes

The aim of this work is to gain insight into the six members of the a1 subfamily of the b-galactosidases (BGAL) from Arabidopsis thaliana. First, the subcellular location of all these six BGAL proteins from a1 subfamily has been established in the cell wall by the construction of transgenic plants producing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) fused to the BGAL proteins. BGAL12 is also located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Our study of the AtBGAL transcript accumulation along plant development indicated that all AtBGAL transcript appeared in initial stages of development, both dark- and light-grown seedlings, being AtBGAL1, AtBGAL2 and AtBGAL3 transcripts the predominant ones in the latter condition, mainly in the aerial part and with levels decreasing with age. The high accumulation of transcript of AtBGAL4 in basal internodes and in leaves at the end of development, and their strong increase after treatment both with BL and H3BO3 point to an involvement of BGAL4 in cell wall changes leading to the cease of elongation and increased rigidity. The changes of AtBGAL transcript accumulation in relation to different stages and conditions of plant development, suggest that each of the different gene products have a plant-specific function and provides support for the proposed function of the subfamily a1 BGAL in plant cell wall remodelling for cell expansion or for cell response to stress conditions.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) (BFU2013-44793-P). María Moneo-S anchez was supported by Programa Predoctoral de Formaci  on de Personal Investigador grant from the Basque Governement, Lucía Izquierdo was supported by a FPI grant from the MINECO

Cueva Santa del Cabriel (Mira, Cuenca): antique cult site and christian hermitage

La Cueva Santa del Cabriel ofrece una larga ocupación que se extiende desde un momento avanzado del Calcolítico y el inicio de la Edad del Bronce hasta la actualidad. El estudio de sus características y materiales ha permitido establecer su interpretación como posible lugar de enterramiento durante sus etapas iniciales y como cueva-santuario durante la II Edad del Hierro, hasta llegar actualmente a ser una ermita cristiana. Este proceso llevó aparejado una evolución de los ritos y divinidades.Cueva Santa del Cabriel (Mira, Cuenca) has been frecuented from later Copper Age and Early Bronze Age periods until today. An analisis of its features and its material culture allows us interpret it as a burial cave in the Copper Age-Early Bronze Age and a sacred cave in the Iron Age. Nowadays, is it a Christian hermitage. An evolution of its rites and divinities worshipped is observed in this time.Este trabajo se ha realizado en el marco del proyecto de investigación BHA2003-08222 Meseta-Mediterráneo. De la Edad del Bronce a la aparición de la escritura. Tradiciones culturales, intercambios y procesos de transformación, financiado por la DGICYT del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología y fondos FEDER

Knockout mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana β-galactosidase. Modifications in the cell wall saccharides and enzymatic activities

This work studied the six -galactosidases (BGALs) of the subfamily a1 of Arabidopsis, that have been proposed to play important roles in the cell wall remodelling during plant development, although their precise functions are still unknown. Knockout mutants bgal1, bgal2, bgal3, bgal4, bgal5, and bgal12 of Arabidopsis and their wild type (WT) plants were analysed to determine their morphology and composition of their cell walls. The gas chromatography and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed differences between the mutants and their WT such as in the proportions of glucose, galactose, or xylose in bgal2 and bgal4 and in cell walls polysaccharides in bgal1, bgal3, and bgal5. However, these slight changes did not result in morphological variations during plant development. None of the mutant seedlings displayed a clear reduction in β(1,4)-galactan content, analysed by immunolocalization. The absence of significant phenotypic changes in the -galactosidase subfamily a1 mutants could indicate possible -galactosidases functional redundancy. Future studies will focus on the construction of multiple mutants that help to establish the precise function of each member of the -galactosidase subfamily a1.This work was supported by the project funding by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y competitividad (MINECO) (BFU2013-44793-P). María Moneo was supported by a Programa Predoctoral de Formación de Personal Investigador grant from the Basque Government; Lucía Izquierdo was supported by a FPI grant from the MINECO. We want to thank to J.L. Acebes and I. Zarra for the help with the FTIR analysis. The first two authors contributed equally to the paper