Multisensory Training Intervention for Hearing Impaired Children: Preliminary Results of a Pilot Study

This paper examines the influence of the Interactive Multisensory Environment (iMSE) on the training of deaf children in comparison to traditional methods. Over a 7-week duration, two groups of deaf children were evaluated and trained, one utilizing the iMSE (Experimental Group) and the other employing a traditional PC-based method (Control Group). The training encompassed four different thematic categories, each with nine associated sounds. The iMSE offered an immersive and dynamic learning experience, while the PC-based method presented stimuli through a desktop computer. Results indicate that the iMSE yielded positive effects on the training outcomes of deaf children, as evidenced by improved performance and engagement. This research sheds light on the potential benefits of innovative multisensory technology in educational settings for children with hearing impairments, offering insights for future educational interventions

Non-neuronal TRPA1 encodes mechanical allodynia associated with neurogenic inflammation and partial nerve injury in rats

Background and purpose: The pro-algesic transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel, expressed by a subpopulation of primary sensory neurons, has been implicated in various pain models in mice. However, evidence in rats indicates that TRPA1 conveys nociceptive signals elicited by channel activators, but not those associated with tissue inflammation or nerve injury. Here, in rats, we explored the TRPA1 role in mechanical allodynia associated with stimulation of peptidergic primary sensory neurons (neurogenic inflammation) and moderate (partial sciatic nerve ligation, pSNL) or severe (chronic constriction injury, CCI) sciatic nerve injury. Experimental approach: Acute nociception and mechanical hypersensitivity associated with neurogenic inflammation and sciatic nerve injury (pSNL and CCI) were investigated in rats with TRPA1 pharmacological antagonism or genetic silencing. TRPA1 presence and function were analysed in cultured rat Schwann cells. Key results: Hind paw mechanical allodynia (HPMA), but not acute nociception, evoked by local injection of capsaicin or allyl isothiocyanate, the TRP vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) or the TRPA1 activators was mediated by CGRP released from peripheral sensory nerve terminals. CGRP-evoked HPMA was sustained by a ROS-dependent TRPA1 activation, probably in Schwann cells. HPMA evoked by pSNL, but not that evoked by CCI, was mediated by ROS and TRPA1 without the involvement of CGRP. Conclusions and implications: As found in mice, TRPA1 mediates mechanical allodynia associated with neurogenic inflammation and moderate nerve injury in rats. The channel contribution to mechanical hypersensitivity is a common feature in rodents and might be explored in humans

Vigilancia Epidemiológica de zoonosis en pequeños animales en la zona de influencia de la Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias de la UCC

La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) ha definido las zoonosis como “aquellas enfermedades e infecciones que se transmiten, en forma natural, entre animales vertebrados y el hombre. La separación de las zoonosis en un grupo aparte de enfermedades tiene un significado práctico, antropocéntrico y utilitario, si bien biológicamente injustificable. Su objetivo es señalar que el reservorio de estas enfermedades son los animales inferiores y por consiguiente la prevención y el control de la infección deben llevarse a cabo sobre estos reservorios animales. La consideración que requieren las zoonosis, más allá de la sola propuesta para su valoración en términos de morbilidad y mortalidad, implica también generar y ofrecer alternativas viables para su atención desde una perspectiva integral, que más allá de una casuística, considere sus determinantes. Estableciéndose que las zoonosis se pueden transmitir a partir de los mismos animales, otras formas de vida o bien a través de vehículos y materia inerte, el riesgo de contraer una zoonosis no está definido por la posesión o no de animales, ni es tampoco una decisión el asimilarlo con conocimientos de causa, simplemente se refiere a un hecho epidemiológico de carácter ambiental y por lo tanto a un evento definible como riesgo que adquiere características particulares en el contexto urbano. Una zoonosis más que un caso de enfermedad transmisible requiere ser visto como la manifestación de un complejo en el que la enfermedad es solo la resultante de un proceso en el que convergen diversos factores, relacionados con las variables epidemiológicas de tiempo, espacio y población pero también con las de carácter económico, social y específicas de orden cultural. Pocos son los conocimientos actuales de la casuística de las zoonosis transmitidas por pequeños animales en el área de influencia de la UCC, por lo tanto a través del presente proyecto se intenta avanzar en el conocimiento de estas enfermedades y a su vez implementar en el ámbito de la Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, técnicas diagnósticas para las mismas, que no solo beneficiarán las tareas de docencia sino también de servicio al medio.Fil: Graiff, Diego Sebastián. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Sequeira, Gabriel Jorge. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Faya, Marcela Inés. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentin

Employability of Disabled Graduates: Resources for a Sustainable Employment

In the frame of the psychology of sustainability, this research aims at exploring how the related concepts of risk factors, protective factors, and resilience might inform our understanding of the postgraduate outcomes of disabled youth. The number of disabled students is growing steadily, nevertheless, relatively little is known about the employment experiences and skill development of disabled youth. Following the positive primary preventive approach, this explorative research investigates the role of resilience and employability resources both in preventing perceived negative impact of disability on the employment opportunities and promoting the perception of employability. Fifty disabled students responded to an online questionnaire and their responses were compared to those of a nondisabled sample (N = 190). Motivations and meanings associated with entry into the workplace are equivalent in the two groups, but perceived impact of disability is a risk factor that hinders perceived employability. Resilience resources and soft skills show their effectiveness in reducing perceived disability impact and improving perceived employability, but between group comparison shows differences in the set of available resources. Overall, results provide insights for implementing actions to promote sustainable employment in order to foster a positive, sustainable organizational development

synthesis of 3 4 dihydropyrazino 1 2 a indol 1 2h ones by cascade addition cyclization reactions from vinyl selenones

Recently vinyl selenones have been discovered as excellent substrates to synthesize indole derivatives in an cost-inexpensive and eco-friendly reaction. Herein we describe the synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrazino[1,2-a]indol-1(2H)-ones, which attracted the attention of medicinal chemists thanks to their important biological activities such as antifungal, antihistaminergic and anti-serotoninergic. The reaction takes place via a Michael addition-cyclization cascade starting from vinyl selenones and (1H-indol-2yl)carboxamides using as base potassium hydroxide

The Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator BAY 41-2272 Attenuates Transforming Growth Factor β1-Induced Myofibroblast Differentiation of Human Corneal Keratocytes

Corneal transparency, necessary for vision and depending on the high organization of stromal extracellular matrix, is maintained by keratocytes. Severe or continuous corneal injuries determine exaggerated healing responses resulting in the formation of irreversible fibrotic scars and vision impairment. Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulation demonstrated antifibrotic effects in both experimental fibrosis and human lung and skin fibroblasts. Here, we assessed whether sGC stimulation with BAY 41-2272 could attenuate transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1)-induced myofibroblast differentiation of human corneal keratocytes. Cells were challenged with TGFβ1, with/without BAY 41-2272 preincubation, and subsequently assessed for viability, proliferation, migration, chemoinvasion, as well for the expression of myofibroblast/fibroblast activation markers and contractile abilities. Treatment with BAY 41-2272 did not affect keratocyte viability, while preincubation of cells with the sGC stimulator was able to inhibit TGFβ1-induced proliferation, wound healing capacity, and invasiveness. BAY 41-2272 was also able to attenuate TGFβ1-induced myofibroblast-like profibrotic phenotype of keratocytes, as demonstrated by the significant decrease in ACTA2, COL1A1, COL1A2, FN1 and PDPN gene expression, as well as in α-smooth muscle actin, α-1 chain of type I collagen, podoplanin, vimentin and N-cadherin protein expression. Finally, BAY 41-2272 significantly counteracted the TGFβ1-induced myofibroblast-like ability of keratocytes to contract collagen gels, reduced phosphorylated Smad3 protein levels, and attenuated gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Collectively, our data show for the first time that BAY 41-2272 is effective in counteracting keratocyte-to-myofibroblast transition, thus providing the rationale for the development of sGC stimulators as novel promising modulators of corneal scarring and fibrosis

Schwann cell insulin-like growth factor receptor type-1 mediates metastatic bone cancer pain in mice

Insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), an osteoclast-dependent osteolysis biomarker, contributes to metastatic bone cancer pain (MBCP), but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. In mice, the femur metastasis caused by intramammary inoculation of breast cancer cells resulted in IGF-1 increase in femur and sciatic nerve, and IGF-1-dependent stimulus/non-stimulus-evoked pain-like behaviors. Adeno-associated virus-based shRNA selective silencing of IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) in Schwann cells, but not in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, attenuated pain-like behaviors. Intraplantar IGF-1 evoked acute nociception and mechanical/cold allodynia, which were reduced by selective IGF-1R silencing in DRG neurons and Schwann cells, respectively. Schwann cell IGF-1R signaling promoted an endothelial nitric oxide synthase-mediated transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) activation and release of reactive oxygen species that, via macrophage-colony stimulating factor-dependent endoneurial macrophage expansion, sustained pain-like behaviors. Osteoclast derived IGF-1 initiates a Schwann cell-dependent neuroinflammatory response that sustains a proalgesic pathway that provides new options for MBCP treatment

Association between self-perceived body image and body composition between the sexes and different age classes

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between self-perceived body image and body composition in the sexes and in different age classes. Methods: The sample consisted of 632 young adults (238 men and 394 women; 22.8 § 2.3 y of age), and 162 middle-aged and elderly adults (96 men and 66 women; 61.4 § 7.6 y of age). The Williamson’s figure scale was used to evaluate current body size. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight and waist, arm and calf circumferences) were taken, and body mass index was calculated. Specific bioelectrical impedance vector analysis was applied to evaluate body composition. Results: The findings suggest that in both age classes, current body size was positively correlated with weight, body mass index, and vector length, indicative of the percentage of fat mass, but not with phase angle, indicative of the intracellular/extracellular water ratio and a proxy of muscle mass. The association was similar between men and women, but clearer in women. Confidence ellipses confirmed the strong association between the silhouettes and adiposity. Conclusion: The Williamson’s figure scale silhouettes appear to be a suitable technique to screen for adiposity in epidemiologic studies and for routine applications.This investigation was carried out with the project support “Consolidated Group funding from the Basque Government (IT1380-19), Basque Government, 2019-2021.