Estrategias artísticas en los procesos de significación de las enfermedades mediáticas y periféricas y en su expulsión del espacio público

En primer lugar estudiaremos cómo las prácticas artísticas interfieren en el proceso de significación de enfermedades mediáticas y en la visibilización de las enfermedades periféricas, para favorecer una mayor presencia e inclusión de las mismas en nuestros espacios públicos. Posteriormente, articularemos una sistematización de las estrategias artísticas desarrolladas al respecto, desde la segunda mitad del siglo XX en occidente, como parte de los resultados alcanzados.Firstly, we will study how the artistic practices interfere in the signification process of media diseases, and in the visibilization of peripheral diseases, to favor more presence and inclusion of the same ones in our public spaces. Later, we will articulate a systematization of the artistic strategies developed in the matter, since the second half of the XX century in west, as part of the reached results

Diseases as otherness: dominant metaphors from visual artistic practice

Este texto presenta un trabajo de investigación sobre cuáles han sido las metáforas dominantes de las enfermedades en la sociedad occidental, desde finales del siglo XX hasta la actualidad, partiendo del estudio las prácticas artísticas visuales que han abordado esta problemática. Para ello, hemos desarrollado un análisis crítico y comparativo de una selección de estrategias artísticas, contrastándolas con las aportaciones teóricas de los principales expertos al respecto. Esto nos ha permitido localizar y sistematizar los principales procesos de metaforización en este periodo, quedando todos ellos definidos y englobados desde la otredad. Los resultados alcanzados nos han posibilitado constatar un mayor fortalecimiento de las metáforas negativas de las enfermedades, potenciadas por el auge del culto al cuerpo sano y saludable en nuestra sociedad. Y, además, comprobar la capacidad de las prácticas artísticas visuales como herramientas de resignificación de las enfermedades, favoreciendo otras conceptualizaciones menos estigmatizantes .This text presents a research work about the dominant metaphors of diseases in Western society, from the end of the 20th century to the present, we start from the study of the visual artistic practices that they have approached this problem. For this, we have developed a critical and comparative analysis of a selection of artistic strategies, we contrast them with the theoretical contributions of the main experts in the matter. This has allowed us to locate and systematize the main processes of metaphorization in this period, all of them will be defined and encompassed from the otherness. The results achieved have been possible to prove a further strengthening of negative metaphors of the diseases, they are enhanced by the rise of the cult of the healthy body in our society. In addition, we verify the capacity of visual artistic practices as tools of resignification of the diseases, they favor other less stigmatizing conceptualizations.Grupo de Investigación HUM.425 (Universidad de Granada

Artist Strategies and Diseases Concealment in the Public Space

Grupo de Investigación HUM-425 (Universidad de Granada)Este texto recoge las últimas fases del proyecto que venimos desarrollando desde el Grupo de Investigación HUM-425 (UGR). Su principal objetivo es cuestionar las políticas culturales de representación de la enfermedad, interfiriendo en los discursos que las generan y promoviendo nuevas formas de visibilización. Para ello, hemos analizado las causas de este silenciamiento en las sociedades avanzadas para comprender mejor los posicionamientos artísticos que se han desarrollado ante esta situación, en los que se favorece nuevas formas de relación, convivencia y representación de las enfermedades y se producen unos imaginarios vi-suales más diversos e inclusivos.This text collects the last phases of the project that we have developed from the Research Group HUM-425 (UGR). Our principal aim is to question the cultural policies of how diseases are representated and how they interfere in the speeches that generate them promoting new ways ofvisibilization. To do so, we have analyzed the reasons of this silence inadvanced societies to understand better the artistic trends that they have developed in this situation. These trends tent to favour new forms of relation, coexistence and diseases representation producing more diverseand inclusive visual imaginary.Universidad de Granada HUM-42

Seminari comparatiu de llibres francesos, catalans i espanyols de Ciències Socials: Continguts i Competències

El passat 26 d’octubre a la Facultat de Ciències de l’Educació i Psicologia se celebrà el “Seminari comparatiu de llibres francesos, catalans i espanyols de Ciències Socials: Continguts i Competències”, sota la coordinació del professor Antoni Gavaldà, conduït per ell mateix i per la professora francesa Nicole Darmon, de l’Ecole Aérogare de Blagnac

Nasopharyngeal microbiota profiling of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

We aimed to analyze the nasopharyngeal microbiota profles in pregnant women with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection, considered a vulnerable population during COVID-19 pandemic. Pregnant women were enrolled from a multicenter prospective population-based cohort during the frst SARS-CoV-2 wave in Spain (March-June 2020 in Barcelona, Spain) in which the status of SARSCoV-2 infection was determined by nasopharyngeal RT–PCR and antibodies in peripheral blood. Women were randomly selected for this cross-sectional study on microbiota. DNA was extracted from nasopharyngeal swab samples, and the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA of bacteria was amplifed using region-specifc primers. The diferential abundance of taxa was tested, and alpha/beta diversity was evaluated. Among 76 women, 38 were classifed as positive and 38 as negative for SARS-CoV-2 infection. All positive women were diagnosed by SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM/IgA antibodies, and 14 (37%) also had a positive RT–PCR. The overall composition of the nasopharyngeal microbiota difer in pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection (positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies), compared to those without the infection (negative SARS-CoV-2 antibodies) (p = 0.001), with a higher relative abundance of the Tenericutes and Bacteroidetes phyla and a higher abundance of the Prevotellaceae family. Infected women presented a diferent pattern of microbiota profling due to beta diversity and higher richness (observed ASV< 0.001) and evenness (Shannon index < 0.001) at alpha diversity. These changes were also present in women after acute infection, as revealed by negative RT–PCR but positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, suggesting a potential association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and long-lasting shift in the nasopharyngeal microbiota. No signifcant diferences were reported inmild vs. severe cases. This is the frst study on nasopharyngeal microbiota during pregnancy. Pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection had a diferent nasopharyngeal microbiota profle compared to negative cases

Changes in the Serotype Distribution of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Causing Otitis Media After PCV13 Introduction in Spain

One of the beneficial effects of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) has been a decrease in the incidence of non-invasive infections, such as otitis media (OM) caused by vaccine serotypes. In this study, we analyzed the epidemiology of pneumococcal OM before and after PCV13 introduction in 2010. Between 2008 and 2016, the middle ear exudates from 2653 children under 14 years of age with OM were studied in two Spanish provinces (Gipuzkoa and Barcelona), and S. pneumoniae was isolated in 235 (8.9%) of cases. The 204 available isolates were serotyped and distributed in three 3-year periods: one before and two after PCV13 introduction (early and late post-PCV13). A significant decrease in the rate of OM caused by S. pneumoniae was observed mainly due to a decrease in infections caused by all PCV13 serotypes, although exceptions were observed including the persistence of serotype 3 in Gipuzkoa and a weak re-emergence of serotype 19F in both regions. The rate and diversity of non-PCV13 serotypes increased in both regions and an emerging clone causing OM was detected in each region: serotype 23B ST2372 in Gipuzkoa and serotype 11A ST838/ST6521 in Barcelona. The introduction of PCV13 has been followed by a change in the epidemiology of pneumococcal OM, with a decrease in the rate of vaccine serotypes accompanied by an increase in the diversity of non-vaccine serotype and the clonal spreading of different single clones in each region.JMM was funded in part by the Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES-26). CMA was funded in part by the Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de de Epidemiologia y Salud Publica (CIBERESP-57). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. This work was funded in part by the Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES-26) and de Epidemiologia y Salud Publica (CIBERESP-57)

Patient participation in ERS guidelines and research projects:the EMBARC experience

The European Multicentre Bronchiectasis Audit and Research Collaboration (EMBARC) is a European Respiratory Society (ERS) Clinical Research Collaboration dedicated to improving research and clinical care for people with bronchiectasis. EMBARC has created a European Bronchiectasis Registry, funded by the ERS and by the European Union (EU) Innovative Medicines Initiative Programme. From the outset, EMBARC had the ambition to be a patient-focussed project. In contrast to many respiratory diseases, however, there are no specific patient charities or European patient organisations for patients with bronchiectasis and no existing infrastructure for patient engagement. This article describes the experience of EMBARC and the European Lung Foundation in establishing a patient advisory group and then engaging this group in European guidelines, an international registry and a series of research studies. Patient involvement in research, clinical guidelines and educational activities is increasingly advocated and increasingly important. Genuine patient engagement can achieve a number of goals that are critical to the success of an EU project, including focussing activities on patient priorities, allowing patients to direct the clinical and research agenda, and dissemination of guidelines and research findings to patients and the general public. Here, we review lessons learned and provide guidance for future ERS task forces, EU-funded projects or clinical research collaborations that are considering patient involvement. Educational aims To understand the different ways in which patients can contribute to clinical guidelines, research projects and educational activities. To understand the barriers and potential solutions to these barriers from a physician’s perspective, in order to ensure meaningful patient involvement in clinical projects. To understand the barriers and potential solutions from a patient’s perspective, in order to meaningfully involve patients in clinical projects

Molecular epidemiology of enterovirus 71, coxsackievirus A16 and A6 associated with hand, foot and mouth disease in Spain

Producción CientíficaHand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a childhood illness frequently caused by genotypes belonging to the enterovirus A species, including coxsackievirus (CV)-A16 and enterovirus (EV)-71. Between 2010 and 2012, several outbreaks and sporadic cases of HFMD occurred in different regions of Spain. The objective of the present study was to describe the enterovirus epidemiology associated with HFMD in the country. A total of 80 patients with HFMD or atypical rash were included. Detection and typing of the enteroviruses were performed directly in clinical samples using molecular methods. Enteroviruses were detected in 53 of the patients (66%). CV-A6 was the most frequent genotype, followed by CV-A16 and EV-71, but other minority types were also identified. Interestingly, during almost all of 2010, CV-A16 was the only causative agent of HFMD but by the end of the year and during 2011, CV-A6 became predominant, while CV-A16 was not detected. In 2012, however, both CV-A6 and CV-A16 circulated. EV-71 was associated with HFMD symptoms only in three cases during 2012. All Spanish CV-A6 sequences segregated into one major genetic cluster together with other European and Asian strains isolated between 2008 and 2011, most forming a particular clade. Spanish EV-71 strains belonged to subgenogroup C2, as did most of the European sequences circulated. In conclusion, the recent increase of HFMD cases in Spain and other European countries has been due to a larger incidence of circulating species A enteroviruses, mainly CV-A6 and CV-A16, and the emergence of new genetic variants of these viruses

Enhancing sucrose synthase activity results in increased levels of starch and ADP-glucose in maize (Zea mays L.) seed endosperms.

Póster presentado en el XIII Congresso Luso-Espanhol de Fisiologia Vegetal, celebrado en Lisboa del 24 al 28 de julio de 2013.Sucrose synthase (SuSy) is a highly regulated cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of sucrose and a nucleoside diphosphate into the corresponding nucleoside diphosphate glucose and fructose. In cereal endosperms, it is widely assumed that the stepwise reactions of SuSy, UDPglucose pyrophosphorylase and ADPglucose (ADPG) pyrophosphorylase (AGP) take place in the cytosol to convert sucrose into ADPG necessary for starch biosynthesis, although it has been also suggested that SuSy may participate in the direct conversion of sucrose into ADPG. In this study, the levels of the major primary carbon metabolites, and the activities of starch metabolism related enzymes were assessed in endosperms of transgenic maize plants ectopically expressing StSUS4 , which encodes a potato SuSy isoform. A total of 29 fertile lines transformed with StSUS4 were obtained, 5 of them containing a single copy of the transgene that was still functional after five generations. The number of seeds per ear of the 5 transgenic lines containing a single StSUS4 copy was comparable to that of wild type (WT) control seeds. However, transgenic seeds accumulated 10-15% more starch at the mature stage, and contained a higher amylose/amylopectin balance than WT seeds. Endosperms of developing StSUS4-expressing seeds exhibited a significant increase in SuSy activity, and in starch and ADPG contents when compared with WT endosperms. No significant changes could be detected in the transgenic seeds in soluble sugars content, and in activities of starch metabolism related enzymes when compared to WT seeds. A suggested metabolic model is presented wherein both AGP and SuSy are involved in the production of ADPG linked to starch biosynthesis in maize endosperm cells.This research was partially supported by grant BIO2010-18239 from the Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (Spain), by Iden Biotechnology SL, and by the Government of Navarra (grant IIM01491.RI1).Peer Reviewe

Enoxaparin does not ameliorate liver fibrosis or portal hypertension in rats with advanced cirrhosis

Background & Aims Recent studies suggest that heparins reduce liver fibrosis and the risk of decompensation of liver disease. Here, we evaluated the effects of enoxaparin in several experimental models of advanced cirrhosis. Methods Cirrhosis was induced in male Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats by: (i) Oral gavage with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4ORAL), (ii) Bile duct ligation (BDL) and (iii) CCl4 inhalation (CCl4INH). Rats received saline or enoxaparin s.c. (40 IU/Kg/d or 180 IU/Kg/d) following various protocols. Blood biochemical parameters, liver fibrosis, endothelium‐ and fibrosis‐related genes, portal pressure, splenomegaly, bacterial translocation, systemic inflammation and survival were evaluated. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed by in situ bivascular liver perfusions. Results Enoxaparin did not ameliorate liver function, liver fibrosis, profibrogenic gene expression, portal hypertension, splenomegaly, ascites development and infection, serum IL‐6 levels or survival in rats with CCl4ORAL or BDL‐induced cirrhosis. Contrarily, enoxaparin worsened portal pressure in BDL rats and decreased survival in CCl4ORAL rats. In CCl4INH rats, enoxaparin had no effects on hepatic endothelial dysfunction, except for correcting the hepatic arterial dysfunction when enoxaparin was started with the CCl4 exposure. In these rats, however, enoxaparin increased liver fibrosis and the absolute values of portal venous and sinusoidal resistance. Conclusions Our results do not support a role of enoxaparin for improving liver fibrosis, portal hypertension or endothelial dysfunction in active disease at advanced stages of cirrhosis. These disease‐related factors and the possibility of a limited therapeutic window should be considered in future studies evaluating the use of anticoagulants in cirrhosis