Regulación por el glucosaminoglicano condroitín sulfato de la neurotransmisión sináptica en cultivos de neuronas de hipocampo

Tesis doctoral inédita, leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Farmacología y Terapéutica. Fecha de lectura: 20 de junio, 201

Percibiendo el entorno en los robots sociales del RoboticsLab

[Resumen] La percepción del entorno es un aspecto clave para cualquier robot que tenga que interactuar con el mundo, objetos y personas de su entorno. Por este motivo, el campo de la percepción sensorial tiene una gran importancia. Este artículo describe los mecanismos empleados para dotar a los robot sociales del RoboticsLab, de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, de la capacidad de percibir el entorno. Desarrollos recientes en tecnologías sensoriales y algoritmos han permitido en los últimos años alcanzar un nivel de percepción cercano al de los humanos en algunas situaciones. La capacidad de percibir el entorno comprende áreas de investigación tan diversas como: la detección y reconocimiento de objetos, lugares, y personas; el procesamiento del lenguaje natural; la detección, localización, y reconocimiento de los toques producidos por los usuarios con el robot; el análisis del nivel de “enganche” en la interacción del usuario con el robot, etc. En este artículo incluimos una descripción de los tipos de sensores equipadosen los robots, los módulos software desarrollados, y el gestor de la percepción que logra empaquetar y unificar temporalmente la información suministrada por cada uno de estos en diferentes niveles de abstracción de la información percibida

Hospital Epidemics Tracker (HEpiTracker): Description and pilot study of a mobile app to track COVID-19 in hospital workers

Background: Hospital workers have been the most frequently and severely affected professional group during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have a big impact on transmission. In this context, innovative tools are required to measure the symptoms compatible with COVID-19, the spread of infection, and testing capabilities within hospitals in real time. Objective: We aimed to develop and test an effective and user-friendly tool to identify and track symptoms compatible with COVID-19 in hospital workers. Methods: We developed and pilot tested Hospital Epidemics Tracker (HEpiTracker), a newly designed app to track the spread of COVID-19 among hospital workers. Hospital staff in 9 hospital centers across 5 Spanish regions (Andalusia, Balearics, Catalonia, Galicia, and Madrid) were invited to download the app on their phones and to register their daily body temperature, COVID-19-compatible symptoms, and general health score, as well as any polymerase chain reaction and serological test results. Results: A total of 477 hospital staff participated in the study between April 8 and June 2, 2020. Of note, both health-related (n=329) and non-health-related (n=148) professionals participated in the study; over two-thirds of participants (68.8%) were health workers (43.4% physicians and 25.4% nurses), while the proportion of non-health-related workers by center ranged from 40% to 85%. Most participants were female (n=323, 67.5%), with a mean age of 45.4 years (SD 10.6). Regarding smoking habits, 13.0% and 34.2% of participants were current or former smokers, respectively. The daily reporting of symptoms was highly variable across participating hospitals; although we observed a decline in adherence after an initial participation peak in some hospitals, other sites were characterized by low participation rates throughout the study period. Conclusions: HEpiTracker is an already available tool to monitor COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in hospital workers. This tool has already been tested in real conditions. HEpiTracker is available in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. It has the potential to become a customized asset to be used in future COVID-19 pandemic waves and other environments

Influence of the Temperature and the Genotype of the HSP90AA1 Gene over Sperm Chromatin Stability in Manchega Rams

The present study addresses the effect of heat stress on males' reproduction ability. For that, we have evaluated the sperm DNA fragmentation (DFI) by SCSA of ejaculates incubated at 37°C during 0, 24 and 48 hours after its collection, as a way to mimic the temperature circumstances to which spermatozoa will be subject to in the ewe uterus. The effects of temperature and temperature-humidity index (THI) from day 60 prior collection to the date of semen collection on DFI were examined. To better understand the causes determining the sensitivity of spermatozoa to heat, this study was conducted in 60 males with alternative genotypes for the SNP G/C−660 of the HSP90AA1 promoter, which encode for the Hsp90α protein. The Hsp90α protein predominates in the brain and testis, and its role in spermatogenesis has been described in several species. Ridge regression analyses showed that days 29 to 35 and 7 to 14 before sperm collection (bsc) were the most critical regarding the effect of heat stress over DFI values. Mixed model analyses revealed that DFI increases over a threshold of 30°C for maximum temperature and 22 for THI at days 29 to 35 and 7 to 14 bsc only in animals carrying the GG−660 genotype. The period 29–35 bsc coincide with the meiosis I process for which the effect of the Hsp90α has been described in mice. The period 7–14 bsc may correspond with later stages of the meiosis II and early stages of epididymal maturation in which the replacement of histones by protamines occurs. Because of GG−660 genotype has been associated to lower levels of HSP90AA1 expression, suboptimal amounts of HSP90AA1 mRNA in GG−660 animals under heat stress conditions make spermatozoa DNA more susceptible to be fragmented. Thus, selecting against the GG−660 genotype could decrease the DNA fragmentation and spermatozoa thermal susceptibility in the heat season, and its putative subsequent fertility gainsPublishe

Padres y profesores : un trabajo conjunto en el desarrollo de la personalidad del niño preescolar

Profesorado: mejorar el proceso educativo por medio de la autoevaluación personal; valorar la necesidad de la intercomunicación educativa: padres-profesores; tomar conciencia del paso de la dependencia hacia la independencia progresiva del niño preescolar. Padres: conocer a su hijo; valorar la interrelación padres-profesores; tomar conciencia de la problemática educativa. Alumno: tomar conciencia de su capacidad de elección; solucionar los pequeños problemas de la vida cotidiana; autoevaluarse; conocer juicios diferentes al suyo; valorar al otro; respetar el medio en el que se desenvuelve. Llevar a cabo una experiencia educativa innovadora, con una duración de tres cursos académicos. Han participado en ella 13 profesores especialistas en Educación Preescolar y 614 alumnos de preescolar con sus correspondientes familias. La memoria consta de 3 partes relativas al profesorado, a las familias y al niño. Respecto al profesorado: realización de cursillos de perfeccionamiento, seminario permanente, lectura y fichaje de bibliografía técnica y confección de un programa de actuación educativa. Respecto a los padres: entrevistas unifamiliares, reuniones interfamiliares, escuela de padres, actividades padres-profesores. Respecto a los alumnos: cambio metodológico que implica convertir la figura del profesor en la de sujeto catalizador, moderador y observador, estableciendo una dinámica de trabajo que respete al alumno en su proceso evolutivo. De las 3 vertientes que han tomado parte en la experiencia, de los puntos referentes al profesorado y a los padres no se pueden aportar unas conclusiones de carácter científico. Por ello, solo se aportan los resultados facilitados por el gabinete psicopedagógico del colegio que ha seguido la experiencia pasando pruebas psicotécnicas todos los cursos al finalizar los alumnos el ciclo Preescolar. Dominio de conceptos básicos: curso 1980-81, 75 por ciento de alumnos; 1981-82, 90 por ciento de alumnos; 1982-83, 83 por ciento de alumnos. Madurez perceptiva: curso 1980-81, 60; 1981-82, 70; 1982-83, 65. Evolución intelectual: curso 1980-81, edad intelectual 5 años y 3 meses; curso 1981-82 y 1982-83, edad intelectual 5 años y 9 meses. El profesorado considera que la experiencia ha sido positiva, queriendo continuar en la investigación y renovándose en el estudio de la experiencia.ValenciaBiblioteca de Educación del Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte; Calle San Agustín, 5 - 3 Planta; 28014 Madrid; Tel. +34917748000; Fax +34917748026; [email protected]

Effects of a Novel Infant Formula on Weight Gain, Body Composition, Safety and Tolerability to Infants: The INNOVA 2020 Study

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of life to promote adequate infant growth and development, and to reduce infant morbidity and mortality. However, whenever some mothers are not able to breastfeed their infants, infant formulas mimicking human milk are needed, and the safety and efficacy of each formula should be tested. Here, we report the results of a multicenter, randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trial that aimed to evaluate a novel starting formula on weight gain and body composition of infants up to 6 and 12 months, as well as safety and tolerability. For the intervention period, infants were divided into three groups: group 1 received formula 1 (Nutribén® Innova 1 (Alter Farmacia S.A., Madrid, Spain) or INN (n = 70)), with a lower amount of protein, a lower casein to whey protein ratio by increasing the content of α-lactalbumin, and a double amount of docosahexaenoic acid/arachidonic acid than the standard formula; it also contained a thermally inactivated postbiotic (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, BPL1TM HT). Group 2 received the standard formula or formula 2 (Nutriben® Natal (Alter Farmacia S.A., Madrid, Spain) or STD (n = 70)) and the third group was exclusively breastfed for exploratory analysis and used as a reference (BFD group (n = 70)). During the study, visits were made at 21 days and 2, 4, 6, and 12 months of age. Weight gain was higher in both formula groups than in the BFD group at 6 and 12 months, whereas no differences were found between STD and INN groups either at 6 or at 12 months. Likewise, body mass index was higher in infants fed the two formulas compared with the BFD group. Regarding body composition, length, head circumference and tricipital/subscapular skinfolds were alike between groups. The INN formula was considered safe as weight gain and body composition were within the normal limits, according to WHO standards. The BFD group exhibited more liquid consistency in the stools compared to both formula groups. All groups showed similar digestive tolerance and infant behavior. However, a higher frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms was reported by the STD formula group (n = 291), followed by the INN formula (n = 282), and the BFD groups (n = 227). There were fewer respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal disorders among BFD children. Additionally, infants receiving the INN formula experienced significantly fewer general disorders and disturbances than those receiving the STD formula. Indeed, atopic dermatitis, bronchitis, and bronchiolitis were significantly more prevalent among infants who were fed the STD formula compared to those fed the INN formula or breastfed. To evaluate whether there were significant differences between formula treatments, beyond growth parameters, it would seem necessary to examine more precise health biomarkers and to carry out long-term longitudinal studies

Activation of the endomitotic spindle assembly checkpoint and thrombocytopenia in Plk1-deficient mice

Polyploidization in megakaryocytes is achieved by endomitosis, a specialized cell cycle in which DNA replication is followed by aberrant mitosis. Typical mitotic regulators such as Aurora kinases or Cdk1 are dispensable for megakaryocyte maturation, and inhibition of mitotic kinases may in fact promote megakaryocyte maturation. However, we show here that Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is required for endomitosis, and ablation of the Plk1 gene in megakaryocytes results in defective polyploidization accompanied by mitotic arrest and cell death. Lack of Plk1 results in defective centrosome maturation and aberrant spindle pole formation, thus impairing the formation of multiple poles typically found in megakaryocytes. In these conditions, megakaryocytes arrest for a long time in mitosis and frequently die. Mitotic arrest in wild-type megakaryocytes treated with Plk1 inhibitors or Plk1-null cells is triggered by the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), and can be rescued in the presence of SAC inhibitors. These data suggest that, despite the dispensability of proper chromosome segregation in megakaryocytes, an endomitotic SAC is activated in these cells upon Plk1 inhibition. SAC activation results in defective maturation of megakaryocytes and cell death, thus raising a note of caution in the use of Plk1 inhibitors in therapeutic strategies based on polyploidization regulators.This work was supported by a fellowship from the Foundation La Caixa (M.T.), and the Cell Division and Cancer group of the CNIO was funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2012-38215), Consolider-Ingenio 2010 Programme (SAF2014-57791-REDC), Red Tematica CellSYS (BFU2014-52125-REDT), Comunidad de Madrid (OncoCycle Programme, S2010/BMD-2470), Worldwide Cancer Research (WCR #15-0278), and the MitoSys project (HEALTH-F5-2010-241548, European Union Seventh Framework Programme).S

Estrategias docentes innovadoras para el estudio de las interrelaciones metabólicas entre órganos y tejidos especializados y su papel clave en diferentes estados fisiopatológicos

El objetivo principal del proyecto es facilitar el estudio del metabolismo, su regulación y las interrelaciones entre órganos y tejidos con distintos perfiles metabólicos, destacando su importancia en diversos estados fisiopatológicos. El proyecto pretende además poner de manifiesto la importancia de estos conocimientos para poder desarrollar proyectos de investigación en diferentes áreas. Con este objetivo, los estudiantes de los cinco grupos de primero de Grado en Biología, tutorizados por M Teresa Portolés (responsable del proyecto), Begoña Gómez-Miguel, Ana Saborido y Mercedes Echaide, profesoras que imparten Metabolismo en la asignatura de Bioquímica, han realizado las actividades indicadas a continuación, organizados en equipos de trabajo centrados en órganos y tejidos clave como cerebro, hígado, músculo, tejido adiposo y glóbulos rojos. - Elaboración de preguntas de examen, fijando la atención en los aspectos más importantes al finalizar el estudio de cada tema. - Realización de infografías expuestas en la Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas del 13 al 17 de mayo, para representar de forma clara, concisa y atractiva las características metabólicas de tipos celulares especializados y sus interrelaciones, facilitando su comprensión y estudio. - Elaboración de un mapa integrador interactivo del metabolismo en las aulas de informática de la Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas con la pizarra digital interactiva, destacando la interconexión de las diferentes rutas metabólicas en la que se basa el funcionamiento del organismo. Laura Casarrubios (Doctora en Biología) ha participado preparando dos vídeos explicativos de los programas Miro y BioRender. - Asistencia a charlas impartidas por las profesoras del proyecto enfocadas en sus proyectos de investigación y con la participación de Mónica Cicuéndez (PAD) experta en Metabolómica, para transmitir a los estudiantes la importancia del estudio del metabolismo en el desarrollo de actividades investigadoras en diferentes áreas. El proyecto ha contado con la participación de Lourdes Varea (Secretaria Administrativa) para la organización de los listados de los diferentes equipos y otras tareas administrativas, así como con numerosos estudiantes colaboradores de cursos anteriores que han aconsejado a los nuevos estudiantes en las actividades realizadas. El proyecto es interfacultativo e interdepartamental, ya que los componentes del equipo pertenecen a las Facultades de Ciencias Químicas, Ciencias Biológicas y Farmacia, y a los Departamentos de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Química en Ciencias Farmacéuticas. El equipo cuenta con 5 miembros PDI (1 Catedrática de Universidad, 3 Profesoras Titulares de Universidad y 1 Profesora Ayudante Doctor), 2 miembros PAS y estudiantes de cursos anteriores. El elevado número de estudiantes (alrededor de 400) que han desarrollado las diferentes actividades, pone de manifiesto el entusiasmo del alumnado y deja constancia de la motivación y el interés que el proyecto ha despertado en los estudiantes de primero de Grado en Biología.Depto. de Bioquímica y Biología MolecularDepto. de Química en Ciencias FarmacéuticasFac. de Ciencias QuímicasFac. de Ciencias BiológicasFac. de FarmaciaFALSEsubmitte