Health promotion as a subject of the educational curriculum in the Catalan context

OBJETIVO. Comprender la manera en que se ha integrado la salud en el currículum educativo catalán y si ésta ha sido reconocida como una competencia más, contribuyendo con ello al logro de los objetivos de la nueva política europea para la promoción de la salud y el bienestar, denominada “Salud 2020”. Reflexionar acerca del papel pedagógico del profesional de enfermería y proponer alternativas de mejora a la situación actual. MATERIALES Y MÉTODO. Se llevó a cabo un ejercicio interpretativo intencional y contextual articulándose el proceso en varias etapas: delimitación de las áreas de conocimiento curriculares a analizar en las etapas de escolarización obligatoria, redactado de los resultados y análisis de los datos surgidos. Como método analítico se utilizó el denominado análisis de contenido. RESULTADOS. En la etapa de Primaria se observan competencias relacionadas con la salud en los ámbitos de conocimiento del medio; educación física; educación en valores y ámbito digital. En la etapa de Secundaria se observan competencias relacionadas con la salud en los ámbitos cientificotecnológico; social; educación física; cultura y valores; ámbito digital. CONCLUSIONES. la promoción de la salud no se proyecta como una materia más en la que se imparten contenidos de salud, sino como un conjunto de contenidos incluidos transversalmente en algunas de las áreas de conocimiento, lo que supondría una barrera para el conveniente desarrollo de los contenidos de salud. Se propone una nueva materia de promoción de salud, con contenidos adaptados a cada etapa educativa. El profesional de enfermería se erige como idóneo para adquirir la responsabilidad y liderazgo y poner en marcha dicha materiaOBJECTIVE. Understand how health has been integrated into the Catalan educational curriculum and whether it has been recognised as an additional competence, thereby contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the new European policy for the promotion of health and well-being, called "Health 2020". To reflect on the pedagogical role of the nursing professional and to propose alternatives for improvement to the current situation. MATERIALS AND METHODS. An intentional and contextual interpretative process was carried out, articulating the process in several stages: delimitation of the areas of curricular knowledge to be analyzed in the stages of compulsory schooling, writing up the results and data analysis. Content analysis was used as the analytical method. RESULTS. In the Primary Education stage, health-related competencies are observed in the fields of environmental knowledge, physical education, education in moral values and the digital field. At the Secondary level, competencies related to health are observed in the scientific-technological, social, physical education, culture and moral values and digital fields. CONCLUSIONS. Health promotion is not projected as just another subject in which health content is taught, but as a set of contents included transversally in some of the areas of knowledge, which would represent a barrier to the convenient development of health content. A new health promotion subject is proposed, with content adapted to each stage of education. The nursing professional becomes the most suitable choice to acquire responsibility and leadership and to implement this subjec

The Automated Root Exudate System (ARES): a method to apply solutes at regular intervals to soils in the field.

Root exudation is a key component of nutrient and carbon dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems. Exudation rates vary widely by plant species and environmental conditions, but our understanding of how root exudates affect soil functioning is incomplete, in part because there are few viable methods to manipulate root exudates in situ. To address this, we devised the Automated Root Exudate System (ARES), which simulates increased root exudation by applying small amounts of labile solutes at regular intervals in the field. The ARES is a gravity-fed drip irrigation system comprising a reservoir bottle connected via a timer to a micro-hose irrigation grid covering c. 1 m2; 24 drip-tips are inserted into the soil to 4-cm depth to apply solutions into the rooting zone. We installed two ARES subplots within existing litter removal and control plots in a temperate deciduous woodland. We applied either an artificial root exudate solution (RE) or a procedural control solution (CP) to each subplot for 1 min day-1 during two growing seasons. To investigate the influence of root exudation on soil carbon dynamics, we measured soil respiration monthly and soil microbial biomass at the end of each growing season. The ARES applied the solutions at a rate of c. 2 L m-2 week-1 without significantly increasing soil water content. The application of RE solution had a clear effect on soil carbon dynamics, but the response varied by litter treatment. Across two growing seasons, soil respiration was 25% higher in RE compared to CP subplots in the litter removal treatment, but not in the control plots. By contrast, we observed a significant increase in microbial biomass carbon (33%) and nitrogen (26%) in RE subplots in the control litter treatment. The ARES is an effective, low-cost method to apply experimental solutions directly into the rooting zone in the field. The installation of the systems entails minimal disturbance to the soil and little maintenance is required. Although we used ARES to apply root exudate solution, the method can be used to apply many other treatments involving solute inputs at regular intervals in a wide range of ecosystems

Monitoring hygienic measures for decreasing salmonella occurrence in scalding tank water of a Turkey slaughterhouse

The objective of this work was to test different treatments based on the temperature and acidification of scalding tank water throughout the day in a turkey slaughterhouse under industrial conditions in order to decrease the occurrence of Salmonella. After controlling the scalding tank water under usual conditions, the following measures were taken: (a) the temperature was increased to 60 °C and 70 °C for 15 min at the halfway point of the day; (b) the scalding water was acidified and six different initial pH levels were tested. Both measures which were tested (heating and acidification of scalding water) showed efficiency in reducing the occurrence of Salmonella during the scalding step. In order to prevent the disadvantages associated with the hardest measures in each case, we propose that scalding water be heated to 70 °C for 15 min without carcasses, which can be repeated if the disadvantages of the exposed costs and resources of processing are acceptable. Regarding acidification, a suitable measure would be an initial pH of 4.0 or any treatment that keeps the pH of the scalding water below 4.5, using acid that does not affect the final quality of the products and/or the elements involved

pH-dependent, extended release and enhanced in vitro efficiency against colon cancer of Tegafur formulated using chitosan-coated poly (ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles

Tegafur is used to treat various malignant lesions, including advanced gastric and colorectal cancers. However, its efficacy is limited by its low oral bioavailability, short half-life and serious toxicity. To address these drawbacks, a nanoformulation of poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles coated with chitosan was developed for the delivery of Tegafur. Poly(ε-caprolactone) particles were prepared by an interfacial polymer disposition method, while surface functionalization with chitosan followed a coacervation procedure. Transmission electron microscopy and elemental analyses, and electrokinetics of the particles demonstrated that such core/shell nanostructure was obtained. Compared to unmodified particles, chitosan-coated nanoparticles demonstrated a substantially increased stability at both 4 and 25 ◦C over 30 days. Particles showed an encapsulation efficiency of ≈64% and a pH-dependent behavior in which complete Tegafur release was extended over 168, 48 or 24 h at pH 7.4 (blood), 6.5 (extracellular microenvironment of tumors) or 5.5 (endosomes/lysosomes of tumor cells), respectively. Based on hemocompatibility and cell viability tests, chitosan-coated nanoparticles exhibited satisfactory biocompatibility and safety for drug delivery. Furthermore, Tegafur-loaded chitosan-decorated particles demonstrated enhanced anticancer efficiency, with half maximal inhibitory concentration values in HT- 29 and T-84 cells of ≈ 4-fold and ≈3.5-fold less than that of the free drug and drug-loaded unmodified nanoparticles, respectively. In vivo studies are needed to fully assess their efficacy and safetyFEDER/Junta de Andalucía – Consejería de Transformaci´on Econ´omica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades, Spain (Grant P20_00346)

Autoimmune neurological conditions associated with Zika virus infection

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging flavivirus rapidly spreading throughout the tropical Americas. mosquitoes is the principal way of transmission of the virus to humans. ZIKV can be spread by transplacental, perinatal, and body fluids. ZIKV infection is often asymptomatic and those with symptoms present minor illness after 3 to 12 days of incubation, characterized by a mild and self-limiting disease with low-grade fever, conjunctivitis, widespread pruritic maculopapular rash, arthralgia and myalgia. ZIKV has been linked to a number of central and peripheral nervous system injuries such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), transverse myelitis (TM), meningoencephalitis, ophthalmological manifestations, and other neurological complications. Nevertheless, mechanisms of host-pathogen neuro-immune interactions remain incompletely elucidated. This review provides a critical discussion about the possible mechanisms underlying the development of autoimmune neurological conditions associated with Zika virus infection

On the Whitham hierarchy: dressing scheme, string equations and additional symmetrie

A new description of the universal Whitham hierarchy in terms of a factorization problem in the Lie group of canonical transformations is provided. This scheme allows us to give a natural description of dressing transformations, string equations and additional symmetries for the Whitham hierarchy. We show how to dress any given solution and prove that any solution of the hierarchy may be undressed, and therefore comes from a factorization of a canonical transformation. A particulary important function, related to the $\tau$-function, appears as a potential of the hierarchy. We introduce a class of string equations which extends and contains previous classes of string equations considered by Krichever and by Takasaki and Takebe. The scheme is also applied for an convenient derivation of additional symmetries. Moreover, new functional symmetries of the Zakharov extension of the Benney gas equations are given and the action of additional symmetries over the potential in terms of linear PDEs is characterized

Efecto del aceite de chía en el perfil proteico de homogenato de hígado durante la exposición a bajas dosis de cadmio en un modelo de rata wistar

Dispositivos electrónicos en desuso incrementan los niveles de cadmio (Cd) en el ambiente constituyendo un riesgo para la salud pública. Paralelamente, se ha informado que el aceite de chía (chía) beneficia la salud. En estudios previos demostramos disminución de la expresión de proteínas totales en hígado de ratas tratadas con 10 mg/kg CdCl 2 . Sin embargo, no existen estudios sobre efectos de chía en estas alteraciones. El objetivo fue evaluar cuali y cuantitativamente el perfil proteico y la expresión de enzimas del tipo esterasas en homogenatos hepáticos. Ratas Wistar fueron divididas en: Grupo A se administró por vía oral agua destilada 1 dosis diaria 5 veces por semana por 60 días. Grupo B10 mg/kg CdCl₂, por la misma vía y período. Grupo C 240 μl/kg chía por la misma vía y período. Grupo D se coadministró Cd/chía en la misma dosis, vía y período. Grupo E se coadministró Cd/chía en la misma dosis y vía por 30 días y luego agua destilada por 30 días. Grupo F se coadministró Cd/chía en la misma dosis y vía por 30 días y luego chía por 30 días. El contenido proteico del homogenato hepático fue evaluado por corridas electroforéticas en geles de poliacrilamida nativos teñidos con plata. Se evaluó actividad de tipo esterasa en zimogramas teñidos con α-naftil acetato y Fast Blue. El software GelAnalyzer se utilizó para la cuantificación de proteínas. Los resultados evidenciaron que la exposición al Cd provocó disminución de la expresión de enzimas con actividad esterasa (Grupos B vs A). Chía incremento la expresión de la banda con actividad esterasa (GruposC vs B). La coadministración Cd/chía evitó que la exposición al Cd induzca disminución de la expresión de enzimas con actividad esterasa (Grupos D, E y F vs B). Estos resultados indican que la administración de chía podría minimizar las alteraciones causada por el Cd.Disused electronic devices increase levels of the cadmium (Cd) in the environment constituting a public health risk. In parallel, chia oil has been reported to benefit health. Previous studies in rats showed decreased expression of total proteins in liver with Cd2+ treatment. However, until now has not been described the effects of chia oil on these alterations. The aim of this work was to evaluate the protein expression and esterase activity in liver homogenates qualitatively and quantitatively. Wistar rats were divided into: Group A: distilled water was administered orally, 1 dose daily 5 times per week and for 60 days. Group B: 10 mg/kg CdCl2, for the same period and period. Group C: 240 μl/kg chia oil by the same route and period. Group D: CdCl2 and chia oil were coadministered at doses previously reported by the same route and period. Group E: CdCl2 and chia oil were coadministered in these doses by the same route for 30 days and then distilled water for 30 days. Group F: dry gave CdCl2 and chia oil at doses previously reported by the same route for 30 days and then chia oil for 30 days. Native polyacrylamide gel (PAGE) electrophoresis of liver homogenates proteins was using silver staining. The zymogram with esterase activity was evaluated with 1-naphtyl-acetate and Fast Blue. The GelAnalyzer software was used for the quantification of the protein concentration. The results showed that the exposure to Cd caused a decrease in the expression of enzymes with esterase activity (Groups B vs A). Chia oil increased expression of the band with esterase activity (Groups C vs B). Co-administration of Cd/chia oil prevented Cd exposure from inducing decreased expression of enzymes with esterase activity (Groups D, E and F vs. B). These results indicate that administration of chia oil could minimize the changes caused by Cd.Fil: González, Maria Elina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Romero, Cintia Mariana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Taboada, Luis Nicolás. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Villafañe, M.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Medina, Marcela Fatima. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; ArgentinaXXXIV Jornadas Científicas de la Asociación de Biología de Tucumán.Tafí ViejoArgentinaAsociación de Biología de Tucumá

Multiple biomarker tissue arrays: a computational approach to identifying protein-protein interactions in the EGFR/ERK signalling pathway

[Abstract] Background. Many studies have demonstrated genetic and environmental factors that lead to renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and that occur during a protracted period of tumourigenesis. It appears suitable to identify and characterise potential molecular markers that appear during tumourigenesis and that might provide rapid and effective possibilities for the early detection of RCC. EGFR activation induces cell cycle progression, inhibition of apoptosis and angiogenesis, promotion of invasion/metastasis, and other tumour promoting activities. Over-expression of EGFR is thought to play an important role in tumour initiation and progression of RCC because up-regulation of EGFR has been associated with high grade cancers and a worse prognosis. Methods. Characterisation of the protein profile interacting with EGFR was performed using the following: an immunohistochemical (IHC) study of EGFR, a comprehensive computational study of EGFR protein-protein interactions, an analysis correlating the expression levels of EGFR with other significant markers in the tumourigenicity of RCC, and finally, an analysis of the utility of EGFR for prognosis in a cohort of patients with renal cell carcinoma. Results. The cases that showed a higher level of this protein fell within the clear cell histological subtype (p = 0.001). The EGFR significance statistic was found with respect to a worse prognosis. In vivo significant correlations were found with PDGFR-β, Flk-1, Hif1-α, proteins related to differentiation (such as DLL3 and DLL4 ligands), and certain metabolic proteins such as Glut5. In silico significant associations gave us a panel of 32 EGFR-interacting proteins (EIP) using the APID and STRING databases. Conclusions. This work summarises the multifaceted role of EGFR in the pathology of RCC, and it identifies EIPs that could help to provide mechanistic explanations for the different behaviours observed in tumours