Stress and memory performance in older men and women: The role of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal axis

When we refer to the HPA-axis, we are referring to a complex communication system that encompasses three different regions of our body. This communication system is crucial for our survival, because it is an important part of our defense when faced with threats, and because it coordinates the re-establishment of homeostasis when the threat is over. Therefore, the activity of the HPA-axis is a part of the stressresponse, and its main function is to improve our chances of survival in the presence of threats to our physical or psychological well-being. Communication is established between the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the adrenal gland through the release of hormones (see figure 1). When the HPAaxis is activated due to, for example, the presence of a physical or psychological stressor, the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus releases corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) into the portal circulation of the median eminence. CRH and AVP induce the pituitary gland to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) into the bloodstream, which stimulates the cortex of the adrenal glands, where, finally, glucocorticoids are released into the bloodstream (Ulrich- Lai and Herman, 2009). The most notable glucocorticoid in humans is cortisol

Hormonal changes of intimate partner violence perpetrators in response to brief social contact with women

This study investigated whether men with a history of real-life aggressive, dominant behavior show increases in testosterone and cortisol levels after brief social contact with women. Furthermore, we tested the prediction that such changes in hormones would be larger than those observed previously in young male students. Sixty-seven male participants convicted of intimate partner violence (IPV) either had brief social contact with a female confederate (experimental condition) or a male confederate (control condition). We also performed meta-analyses to investigate whether IPV perpetrators'' hormonal responses were larger than the typical responses of young male students in prior studies. All statistical analyses were preregistered. Change in testosterone did not differ across experimental conditions, and testosterone in the IPV perpetrators actually declined from baseline in the female confederate condition. Our meta-analysis showed that this testosterone decrease was different from the testosterone increase typically observed in young male students. The cortisol levels of IPV perpetrators did not change in response to contact with women. This result was consistent with our meta-analysis since young male students also did not experience a cortisol change in response to interactions with women. In sum, our findings provide no evidence that male IPV perpetrators exhibit larger hormone increases to brief interactions with women, although it is possible that the men in this sample did not perceive the social contact period as a courtship opportunity. These results suggest that hormone reactivity to social encounters may differ across subject populations and depend on how subjects perceive social situations within laboratory settings

A low cortisol response to acute stress is related to worse basal memory performance in older people

Age-related memory decline has been associated with a faulty regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the magnitude of the stress-induced cortisol increase is related to memory performance when memory is measured in non-stressful conditions. To do so, declarative and working memory performance were measured in 31 men and 35 women between 55 and 77 years of age. On a different day, the magnitude of their cortisol response to acute psychosocial stress was measured. The relationship between the cortisol response and memory performance was U shaped: a low cortisol response to stress was related to poorer declarative and working memory performance, whereas those who did not increase their cortisol levels and those who had the largest cortisol increase had better declarative and working memory capabilities. Sex did not moderate these relationships. These results suggest that a low cortisol response to stress could reflect a defective HPA-axis response to stressors that is accompanied by poorer memory performance. Conversely, a high cortisol response seems to reflect a correct functioning of the HPA-axis and may protect against memory deficits in the later stages of human life

MIC of amoxicillin/clavulanate according to CLSI and EUCAST: discrepancies and clinical impact in patients with bloodstream infections due to Enterobacteriaceae

[Objectives] To compare results of amoxicillin/clavulanate susceptibility testing using CLSI and EUCAST methodologies and to evaluate their impact on outcome in patients with bacteraemia caused by Enterobacteriaceae.[Patients and methods] A prospective observational cohort study was conducted in 13 Spanish hospitals. Patients with bacteraemia due to Enterobacteriaceae who received empirical intravenous amoxicillin/clavulanate treatment for at least 48 h were included. MICs were determined following CLSI and EUCAST recommendations. Outcome variables were: failure at the end of treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanate (FEAMC); failure at day 21; and 30 day mortality. Classification and regression tree (CART) analysis and logistic regression were performed.[Results] Overall, 264 episodes were included; the urinary tract was the most common source (64.7%) and Escherichia coli the most frequent pathogen (76.5%). Fifty-two isolates (19.7%) showed resistance according to CLSI and 141 (53.4%) according to EUCAST. The kappa index for the concordance between the results of both committees was only 0.24. EUCAST-derived, but not CLSI-derived, MICs were associated with failure when considered as continuous variables. CART analysis suggested a ‘resistance’ breakpoint of > 8/4 mg/L for CLSI-derived MICs; it predicted FEAMC in adjusted analysis (OR = 1.96; 95% CI: 0.98–3.90). Isolates with EUCAST-derived MICs >16/2 mg/L independently predicted FEAMC (OR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.05–4.21) and failure at day 21 (OR= 3.01; 95% CI: 0.93–9.67). MICs >32/2 mg/L were only predictive of failure among patients with bacteraemia from urinary or biliary tract sources.[Conclusions] CLSI and EUCAST methodologies showed low agreement for determining the MIC of amoxicillin/clavulanate. EUCAST-derived MICs seemed more predictive of failure than CLSI-derived ones. EUCAST-derived MICs >16/2 mg/L were independently associated with therapeutic failure.The study was funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain (Fondo de investigación en salud; PI10/02021) co-financed by European Development Regional Fund ‘A way to achieve Europe’ ERDF, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD12/0015).Peer reviewe

Testosterone and Cortisol Release among Spanish Soccer Fans Watching the 2010 World Cup Final

This field study investigated the release of testosterone and cortisol of a vicarious winning experience in Spanish fans watching the finals between Spain and the Netherlands in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer. Spanish fans (n = 50) watched the match with friends or family in a public place or at home and also participated in a control condition. Consistent with hypotheses, results revealed that testosterone and cortisol levels were higher when watching the match than on a control day. However, neither testosterone nor cortisol levels increased after the victory of the Spanish team. Moreover, the increase in testosterone secretion was not related to participants' sex, age or soccer fandom, but the increase in total cortisol secretion during the match was higher among men than among women and among fans that were younger. Also, increases in cortisol secretion were greater to the degree that people were a stronger fan of soccer. Level of fandom further appeared to account for the sex effect, but not for the age effect. Generally, the testosterone data from this study are in line with the challenge hypothesis, as testosterone levels of watchers increased to prepare their organism to defend or enhance their social status. The cortisol data from this study are in line with social self-preservation theory, as higher cortisol secretion among young and greater soccer fans suggests that especially they perceived that a negative outcome of the match would threaten their own social esteem

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Streptococcus tigurinus endocarditis

Background: Streptococcus tigurinus was recently described as a new streptococcal species within the viridans group streptococci (VGS). The objectives of the present work were to analyse the clinical and microbiological characteristics of S. tigurinus isolated from patients with bacteraemias, to determine the prevalence of S. tigurinus among VGS endocarditis in Spain, and to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of endocarditis caused by S. tigurinus and other VGS. Methods: Retrospective nationwide study, performed between 2008 and 2016 in 9 Spanish hospitals from 7 different provinces comprising 237 cases of infective endocarditis. Streptococcal isolates were identified by sequencing fragments of their 16S rRNA, sodA and groEL genes. Clinical data of patients with streptococcal endocarditis were prospectively collected according to a pre-established protocol. Results: Patients with endocarditis represented 7/9 (77.8%) and 26/86 (30.2%) of the bacteraemias caused by S. tigurinus and other VGS, respectively (p < 0.001), in two of the hospital participants. Among patients with streptococcal endocarditis, 12 different Streptococcus species were recognized being S. oralis, S. tigurinus and S. mitis the three more common. No relevant statistical differences were observed in the clinical characteristics and outcomes of endocarditis caused by the different VGS species. Conclusions: In this multicenter study performed in Spain, S. tigurinus showed a higher predilection for the endocardial endothelium as compared to other VGS. However, clinical characteristics and outcomes of endocarditis caused by S. tigurinus did not significantly differ from endocarditis caused by other oral streptococci.JMM received a personal 80:20 research grant from the Institut d’InvestigacionsBiomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain during 2017–19. Nofunding entity played any role in the design of the study and data collection,analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

[Purpose]: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. [Methods]: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. [Results]: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. [Conclusion]: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group

Procediment de disseny de filtres pas banda amb ressonadors en cascada

[ES] Los filtros paso banda tienen multitud de aplicaciones en la industria, ya que permiten el paso de señales entre un rango exacto de frecuencias. Por ello en este Trabajo de Fin de Grado (TFG) se propone el diseño de filtros paso banda con resonadores en cascada. Se hará uso del modelo ideal de un inversor, aproximando su respuesta frecuencial con una dependencia lineal con la frecuencia. Jugando con la pendiente de esta respuesta lineal se podrán introducir ceros de transmisión de forma controlada. El valor de la constante de inversión a la frecuencia central será otro de los parámetros de ajuste. Con este modelo simplificado de un filtro paso banda se tratará de encontrar las estrategias adecuadas que permitan recuperar la respuesta de varios filtros disponibles en la literatura.[EN] Bandpass filters have many applications in the industry, since they allow the transmission of signals between an exact range of frequencies. Therefore, in this Final Degree Project (TFG) the design of bandpass filters with cascade resonators is proposed. The ideal model of an inverter will be used, approximating its frequency response with a linear dependence on frequency.Modifying the slope of this linear response, it will be possible to introduce transmission zeros in a controlled way. The value of the inversion constant at the central frequency will be another of the adjustment parameters. With this simplified model of a band-pass filter, we will try to find the appropriate strategies that allow us to recover the response of various filters available in the literature.Almela Sanchiz, M. (2023). Procedimiento de diseño de filtros paso banda con resonadores en cascada. Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/19642

Estudi comparatiu del sector de les resistències elèctriques a Alemanya

[ES] El objetivo del presente trabajo fin de grado consiste en estudiar el sector de fabricantes de resistencias eléctricas en Alemania, así como sus consumidores y proveedores y ver que líneas de futuro se pueden plantear mejoras para los mismos. También se realizará una comparación con las empresas del mismo sector en España.[EN] The goal of this final degree project is to study the sector of manufacturers of electrical resistors in Germany, as well as its consumers and suppliers, and to see what lines of future improvements can be proposed for them. A comparison will also be made with companies in the same sector in Spain.Almela Sanchiz, M. (2022). Estudio comparativo del sector de las resistencias eléctricas en Alemania. Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/185867TFG