LA INFLUENCIA DE LA ACTIVIDAD FÍSICA EN LA CONDICIÓN FÍSICA DE LAS PERSONAS CON SÍNDROME DE DOWN: REVISIÓN SISTEMÁTICA Y PROPUESTA DE TRABAJO.

El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar una revisión sistemática de la literatura relacionada con los efectos de la práctica de actividad física en la mejora de la condición física en personas con Síndrome de Down. Para ello utilizaremos la metodología PRISMA. Con los resultados de esta revisión trataremos de diseñar una propuesta de intervención de ejercicio físico basado en evidencias con el objetivo de la mejora de la condición física de este grupo de población.<br /

Antibodies against Lewis antigens inhibit the binding of human norovirus GII.4 virus-like particles to saliva but not to intestinal Caco-2 cells.

BACKGROUND: Human noroviruses (NoVs) are the main cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. The most commonly detected NoV strains belong to the genetically diverse GII.4 genotype, with new pandemic variants emerging periodically. Despite extensive efforts, NoV investigation has been hampered by the lack of an effective in vitro cell culture system. However, NoV-derived recombinant virus-like particles (VLPs) resembling empty capsids are good surrogates for analysing NoV antigenicity and virus-ligand interactions. NoV VLPs have been reported to bind to histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs). We have analysed the ability of NoV VLPs derived from GI.1 genotype and from three GII.4 genotype variants, GII.4-1999, GII.4-2004 and GII.4-2006b, to bind to porcine gastric mucin (PGM), human saliva and differentiated human intestinal Caco-2 cells (D-Caco-2 cells). RESULTS: Distinct patterns of saliva binding with the NoV GII.4 variant VLPs were observed, although they bound to D-Caco-2 cells independently of the expression of HBGAs. Monoclonal antibodies against Lewis antigens were able to block the binding of NoV VLPs to saliva, but not to D-Caco-2 cells. Blocking HBGAs on the surface of D-Caco-2 cells with specific monoclonal antibodies did not affect NoV VLP binding to cellular membranes. Co-localisation of Lewis y (Le(y)) and H-type 2 antigens with NoV VLPs was not observed by immunofluorescence assays. CONCLUSION: Although the binding of NoV VLPs of GII.4 genotype variants to human saliva samples occur with distinct HBGA binding patterns and can be blocked by antibodies against Lewis antigens, their attachment to D-Caco-2 cells can be mediated by other receptors, which still need further investigation

Industry 4.0 and potential for reshoring: A typology of technology profiles of manufacturing firms

The paper analyses the trend towards reshoring processes in the field of manufacturing industry as a result of the massive digitisation of the technical solutions used by most product fields. The paper analyses the trend towards reshoring processes in the new productive scenario of industry 4.0 posed by the manufacturing industry because of the overall application of ICT and other technologies in their product fields. The incorporation of Industry 4.0 technologies (I 4.0 T) and the resulting digitalisation raises needs for technology adaptation in production plants that have strong territorial effects derived from the technological constraints linked to the adaptation process itself and that result, in many cases, in reshoring. Our analytical proposal takes a logical-formal point of view based on the cognitive composition of the technical solutions used by manufacturing industry, and draws up a typology of technology profiles to help determine the potential for reshoring among offshored plants and the difficulties that the process may entail. The results enable us to identify a growing role for reshoring processes, distinguishing different degrees of intensity depending on the characteristics of the technological scenario in which each plant is located, with the technological resources offered by its local setting playing a fundamental role

Accelerating the crystallization kinetics of linear polylactides by adding cyclic poly (L-lactide): Nucleation, plasticization and topological effects

Unformatted post-print version of the accepted articlePolylactide is one of the most versatile biopolymers, but its slow crystallization limits its temperature usage range. Hence finding ways to enhance it is crucial to widen its applications. Linear and cyclic poly (L-lactide) (l-PLLA and c-PLLA) of similarly low molecular weights (MW) were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide, and ring-expansion methodology, respectively. Two types of blends were prepared by solution mixing: (a) l-PLLA/c-PLLA, at extreme compositions (rich in linear or in cyclic chains), and (b) blends of each of these low MW materials with a commercial high MW linear PLA. The crystallization of the different blends was evaluated by polarized light optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. It was found, for the first time, that in the l-PLLA rich blends, small amounts of c-PLLA (i.e., 5 and 10 wt%) increase the nucleation density, nucleation rate (1/τ0), spherulitic growth rate (G), and overall crystallization rate (1/τ50%), when compared to neat l-PLLA, due to a synergistic effect (i.e., nucleation plus plasticization). In contrast, the opposite effect was found in the c-PLLA rich blends. The addition of small amounts of l-PLLA to a matrix of c-PLLA chains causes a decrease in the nucleation density, 1/τ0, G, and 1/τ50% values, due to threading effects between cyclic and linear chains. Small amounts of l-PLLA and c-PLLA enhance the crystallization ability of a commercial high MW linear PLA without affecting its melting temperature. The l-PLLA only acts as a plasticizer for the PLA matrix, whereas c-PLLA has a synergistic effect in accelerating the crystallization of PLA that goes beyond simple plasticization. The addition of small amounts of c-PLLA affects not only PLA crystal growth but also its nucleation due to the unique cyclic chains topology.We would like to acknowledge the financial support from the BIODEST project; this project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 778092. This work has also received funding from the Basque Government through grant IT1309-19. R.A.P.-C is supported by PIFI of the Chinese Academy of Science for international postdoctoral researchers (2019PE0004), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2020M670462), and National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (52050410327) under the program Research Fund for International Young Scientists. O.C. is Senior Research Associate for the F.R.S.-FNRS of Belgium

Phenotypic correlations in a large single center cohort of patients with BSCL2 nerve disorders: a clinical, neurophysiological and muscle MRI study

Background: BSCL2 heterozygote mutations are a common cause of distal hereditary motor neuropathies (dHMN). We present a series of BSCL2 patients and correlate clinical, neurophysiological and muscle-MRI findings. Methods: 26 patients from 5 families carrying the p.N88S mutation were ascertained. Age of onset, clinical phenotype (dHMN, Charcot-Marie-Tooth/CMT, spastic paraplegia), physical examination, disability measured as modified Rankin score (mRS) and neurophysiological findings were collected. A whole body muscle-MRI had been performed in 18 patients. We analyzed the pattern of muscle involvement on T1-weighted and STIR sequences. Hierarchical analysis using heatmaps and a MRI Composite Score (MRI CS) were generated. Statistical analysis was carried out with STATA SE v.15. Results Mean age was 51.54+/-19.94 years and 14 patients were males. dHMN was the most common phenotype (50%) and 5 patients (19.23%) showed no findings on examination. Disease onset was commonly in childhood and disability was low (mRS=1.34+/-1.13) although median time since onset of disease was 32 years (range=10-47). CMT-like patients were more disabled and disability correlated with age. On muscle-MRI, thenar eminence, soleus and tibialis anterior were most frequently involved, irrespective of clinical phenotype. MRI CS was strongly correlated with disability. Conclusion: Patients with the p.N88S BSCL2 gene mutation are phenotypically variable, although dHMN is most frequent and generally slowly progressive. Muscle-MRI pattern is consistent regardless of phenotype and correlates with disease severity, probably serving as a reliable outcome measure for future clinical trials

Prognostic Utility of a New Risk Stratification Protocol for Secondary Prevention in Patients Attending Cardiac Rehabilitation

Several risk scores have been used to predict risk after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but none of these risk scores include functional class. The aim was to assess the predictive value of risk stratification (RS), including functional class, and how cardiac rehabilitation (CR) changed RS. Two hundred and thirty-eight patients with ACS from an ambispective observational registry were stratified as low (L) and no-low (NL) risk and classified according to exercise compliance; low risk and exercise (L-E), low risk and control (no exercise) (L-C), no-low risk and exercise (NL-E), and no-low risk and control (NL-C). The primary endpoint was cardiac rehospitalization. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify variables independently associated with the primary endpoint. The L group included 56.7% of patients. The primary endpoint was higher in the NL group (18.4% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, diabetes, and exercise in multivariable analysis, HR (95% CI) was 3.83 (1.51-9.68) for cardiac rehospitalization. For RS and exercise, the prognosis varied: the L-E group had a cardiac rehospitalization rate of 2.5% compared to 26.1% in the NL-C group (p < 0.001). Completing exercise training was associated with reclassification to low-risk, associated with a better outcome. This easy-to-calculate risk score offers robust prognostic information. No-exercise groups were independently associated with the worst outcomes. Exercise-based CR program changed RS, improving classification and prognosis

Els materials de construcció: de l’aula a l’obra. Una experiència d’aprenentatge actiu en entorn virtual

El projecte consisteix en el disseny i desenvolupament d’eines i metodologia adequades per tal de facilitar a l’alumnat la visualització, comprensió i estudi de diferents aspectes relatius als materials de construcció. Així, per una banda s’han elaborat materials audiovisuals sota criteris d’adequació pedagògica en els quals es presenta un aspecte relacionat amb l’obtenció i aplicació de diversos materials de construcció. D’altra banda, a partir de l’experiència mostrada es desenvolupa una activitat que porta a l'alumne a reflexionar sobre els coneixements adquirits (a l'aula, al laboratori i a través del visionat dels vídeos) i a consolidar aquests coneixements, millorant així el seu aprenentatge. Les possibilitats que ofereix l’entorn virtual basat en la plataforma Moodle, a través del Campus Digital Atenea permeten gestionar les activitats proposades.Peer Reviewe

Immunomodulation of voltage-dependent K+ channels in macrophages: molecular and biophysical consequences

Voltage-dependent potassium (Kv) channels play a pivotal role in the modulation of macrophage physiology. Macrophages are professional antigen-presenting cells and produce inflammatory and immunoactive substances that modulate the immune response. Blockage of Kv channels by specific antagonists decreases macrophage cytokine production and inhibits proliferation. Numerous pharmacological agents exert their effects on specific target cells by modifying the activity of their plasma membrane ion channels. Investigation of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of potassium ion conduction is, therefore, essential to the understanding of potassium channel functions in the immune response to infection and inflammation. Here, we demonstrate that the biophysical properties of voltage-dependent K+ currents are modified upon activation or immunosuppression in macrophages. This regulation is in accordance with changes in the molecular characteristics of the heterotetrameric Kv1.3/Kv1.5 channels, which generate the main Kv in macrophages. An increase in K+ current amplitude in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages is characterized by a faster C-type inactivation, a greater percentage of cumulative inactivation, and a more effective margatoxin (MgTx) inhibition than control cells. These biophysical parameters are related to an increase in Kv1.3 subunits in the Kv1.3/Kv1.5 hybrid channel. In contrast, dexamethasone decreased the C-type inactivation, the cumulative inactivation, and the sensitivity to MgTx concomitantly with a decrease in Kv1.3 expression. Neither of these treatments apparently altered the expression of Kv1.5. Our results demonstrate that the immunomodulation of macrophages triggers molecular and biophysical consequences in Kv1.3/Kv1.5 hybrid channels by altering the subunit stoichiometry

Lived religion y fenomenología de la religión: el caso latinoamericano

Aunque el estudio del fenómeno religioso desde la perspectiva de la lived religion nace en los países del Atlántico Norte, varios investigadores han adoptado esta aproximación en el contexto latinoamericano para dar cuenta del hecho religioso y su evolución. Esta orientación responde a la insatisfacción que producen las conclusiones a las que llegan las teorías sociológicas clásicas cuando tratan de explicar el lugar y el sentido de la religión en el contexto de la modernidad latinoamericana, como es el caso de las teorías en torno a la secularización. Este abordaje ha resultado prometedor, en la medida en que ofrece evidencias de la presencia del fenómeno religioso en la sociedad contemporánea que no se han tenido suficientemente en cuenta anteriormente. Pero, al mismo tiempo, presenta aspectos que necesitan ser clarificados y/o desarrollados. Uno de ellos es la relación entre la lived religion y los marcos teóricos que, desde las diferentes ciencias sociales, buscan explicar el fenómeno religioso. El presente artículo presenta algunas consideraciones sobre la fecunda relación que puede establecer la lived religion con la fenomenología de la religión. Identifica aspectos en los que ambas disciplinas se complementan y enriquecen mutuamente, así como cuestiones críticas a tener en cuenta. En concreto, se propone un acercamiento fenomenológico a dos ámbitos de análisis diferenciados y, al mismo tiempo, imbricados: la lived religion y la lived spirituality.Although the study of religious phenomena from the perspective of lived religion was born in the North Atlantic countries, several researchers have adopted this approach in the Latin American context to account for the religious fact and its evolution. This orientation responds to the dissatisfaction with the conclusions reached by classical sociological theories when they try to explain the place and meaning of religion in the context of Latin American modernity, as in the case of the theories on secularization. This approach has proved promising, insofar as it offers evidence of the presence of the religious phenomenon in contemporary society that has not been sufficiently taken into account before. But, at the same time, it presents aspects that need to be clarified and/or developed. One of them is the relationship between lived religion and the theoretical frameworks that, from the different social sciences, are intended to explain the religious phenomenon. This article offers some considerations on the fruitful relationship that can be established between lived religion and the phenomenology of religion. It identifies aspects in which both disciplines complement and enrich each other, as well as critical issues to be taken into account. Specifically, it proposes a phenomenological approach to two distinct and, at the same time, intertwined fields of analysis: lived religion and lived spirituality.Embora o estudo do fenômeno religioso sob a perspectiva da lived religion nasça nos países do Atlântico Norte, vários pesquisadores vêm adotando essa abordagem no contexto latino-americano para evidenciar o ato religioso e sua evolução. Essa orientação atende a insatisfação que produzem as conclusões às quais as teorias sociológicas clássicas chegam quando tentam explicar o lugar e sentido da religião no contexto da modernidade latino-americana, como é o caso das teorias em torno da secularização. Essa abordagem é promissora já que oferece evidências da presença do fenômeno religioso na sociedade contemporânea que não foi considerado anteriormente. No entanto e ao mesmo tempo, apresenta aspectos que precisam ser esclarecidos ou desenvolvidos. Um deles é a relação entre a lived religion e os referenciais teóricos que, a partir de diferentes ciências sociais, procuram explicar o fenômeno religioso. Este artigo oferece algumas considerações sobre a fecunda relação que a lived religion pode estabelecer com a fenomenologia da religião. Identifica aspectos em que ambas as disciplinas se complementam e se enriquecem mutuamente, bem como questões críticas a serem levadas em conta. Em específico, propõe-se uma abordagem fenomenológica dos dois âmbitos de análise diferenciados e paralelamente conectados: lived religion e lived spirituality

An intensive, structured, mobile devices-based healthcare intervention to optimize the lipid-lowering therapy improves lipid control after an acute coronary syndrome

Despite the evidence, lipid-lowering treatment (LLT) in secondary prevention remains insufficient, and a low percentage of patients achieve the recommended LDL cholesterol (LDLc) levels by the guidelines. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an intensive, mobile devices-based healthcare lipid-lowering intervention after hospital discharge in patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Ambiespective register in which a mobile devices-based healthcare intervention including periodic follow-up, serial lipid level controls, and optimization of lipid-lowering therapy, if appropriate, was assessed in terms of serum lipid-level control at 12 weeks after discharge. A total of 497 patients, of which 462 (93%) correctly adhered to the optimization protocol, were included in the analysis. At the end of the optimization period, 327 (70.7%) patients had LDLc levels ≤ 70 mg/dL. 40% of patients in the LDLc ≤ 70 mg/dL group were upgraded to very-high intensity lipid-lowering ability therapy vs. 60.7% in the LDLc > 70 mg/dL group, p < 0.001. Overall, 38.5% of patients had at least a change in their LLT. Side effects were relatively infrequent (10.7%). At 1-year follow-up, LDLc levels were measured by the primary care physician in 342 (68.8%) of the whole cohort of 497 patients. In this group, 71.1% of patients had LDLc levels ≤ 70 mg/dL. An intensive, structured, mobile devices-based healthcare intervention after an ACS is associated with more than 70% of patients reaching the LDLc levels recommended by the clinical guidelines. In patients with LDLc measured at 1-year follow-up, 71.1% had LDLc levels ≤ 70 mg/dL