Local and Contralateral Effects after the Application of Neuromuscular Electrostimulation in Lower Limbs

[EN], Neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) has been used mainly as a method to promote muscle strength, but its effects on improving blood flow are less well known. The aim of this study is to deepen the knowledge about the local and contralateral effects of the application of symmetric biphasic square currents on skin temperature (Tsk). An experimental pilot study was developed with a single study group consisting of 45 healthy subjects. Thermographic evaluations were recorded following the application of NMES to the anterior region of the thigh. The results showed an increase in the maximal Tsk of 0.67% in the anterior region of the thigh where the NMES was applied (p < 0.001) and an increase of 0.54% (p < 0.01) due to cross-education effects, which was higher when the NMES was applied on the dominant side (0.79%; p < 0.01). The duration of the effect was 20 min in the dominant leg and 10 min in the nondominant one. The application of a symmetrical biphasic current (8 Hz and 400 μs) creates an increase in the maximal Tsk at the local level. A temperature cross-education effect is produced, which is greater when the NMES is applied on the dominant side.This could be a useful noninvasive measurement tool in NMES treatments.S

Physical and chemical characterization of building materials

The products used in the construction of buildings and infrastructures, are made from raw material extracted directly from nature, and after suitable transformation processes are placed on site. Approximately 2.5 tons of materials per square meter are used in a residential building. The most abundant percentages are: Gravel and sand 57.8, ceramics 21.6, cement 12.5, lime 1.98 and gypsum 0.46. Some materials used cause a high impact of negative character in the environment but their quantification is low whereas others of low impact but are used of massive form in construction reason why they can cause serious hazards for the human health. The raw material used in the manufacture of construction materials is extracted directly from nature or is originated by a mixture of raw material and recycled material. In any case, it is necessary to analyze the chemical composition of the construction products whether they are natural, whether they are transformed or mixed. The purpose of this work was to perform a physical-chemical characterization of samples from factories located in three regions of different geological nature: granitic, calcareous and sedimentary. The materials analyzed come from different factories located in Spain 18 factories of cements, bricks and tiles 15, ceramics 16, sands 15 and natural stones 18. They were supplied by manufacturers and it has been made a physic-chemical characterization of the samples received. The chemical composition of the samples of cement, brick, ceramic and roofing tile has been made using ICP-MS and EDXRF. The results of these analyze shows near 72 different elements. The higher concentrations are of Na, K, Ca, Al, Fe and Si. All the samples were also characterized using XRPD. It is a powerful tool for material characterization in general, and cements materials in particular. The use of the Rietveld method has allowed quantifying the clinkers and cements measured by laboratory x-ray powder diffraction (LXRPD) giving their accurate phase assemblage. From the average composition of the different classes of cements analyzed, it is concluded that, except for two samples, the rest all correspond to Portland cements of different strength.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Artisanal trawl fisheries as a sentinel of marine litter pollution

Systematic seafloor surveys are a highly desirable method of marine litter monitoring, but the high costs involved in seafloor sampling are not a trivial handicap. In the present work, we explore the opportunity provided by the artisanal trawling fisheries to obtain systematic data on marine litter in the Gulf of Cadiz between 2019 and 2021. We find that plastic was the most frequent material, with a prevalence of single-use and fishing-related items. Litter densities decreased with increasing distance to shore with a seasonal migration of the main litter hotspots. During pre-lockdown and post-lockdown stages derived from COVID-19, marine litter density decreased by 65 %, likely related to the decline in tourism and outdoor recreational activities. A continuous collaboration of 33 % of the local fleet would imply a removal of hundreds of thousands of items each year. The artisanal trawl fishing sector can play a unique role of monitoring marine litter on the seabe

Brain and immune system-derived extracellular vesicles mediate regulation of complement system, extracellular matrix remodeling, brain repair and antigen tolerance in Multiple sclerosis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated central nervous system disease whose course is unpredictable. Finding biomarkers that help to better comprehend the disease's pathogenesis is crucial for supporting clinical decision-making. Blood extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound particles secreted by all cell types that contain information on the disease's pathological processes. Purpose: To identify the immune and nervous system-derived EV profile from blood that could have a specific role as biomarker in MS and assess its possible correlation with disease state. Results: Higher levels of T cell-derived EVs and smaller size of neuron-derived EVs were associated with clinical relapse. The smaller size of the oligodendrocyte-derived EVs was related with motor and cognitive impairment. The proteomic analysis identified mannose-binding lectin serine protease 1 and complement factor H from immune system cell-derived EVs as autoimmune disease-associated proteins. We observed hepatocyte growth factor-like protein in EVs from T cells and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 2 from neurons as white matter injury-related proteins. In patients with MS, a specific protein profile was found in the EVs, higher levels of alpha-1-microglobulin and fibrinogen β chain, lower levels of C1S and gelsolin in the immune system-released vesicles, and Talin-1 overexpression in oligodendrocyte EVs. These specific MS-associated proteins, as well as myelin basic protein in oligodendrocyte EVs, correlated with disease activity in the patients with MS. Conclusion: Neural-derived and immune-derived EVs found in blood appear to be good specific biomarkers in MS for reflecting the disease state.This work was sponsored by a grant from Miguel Servet (CP20/00024 to Laura Otero-Ortega), Miguel Servet (CPII20/00002 to María Gutiérrez-Fernández), a predoctoral fellowship (FI18/00026 to Fernando Laso-García), a Río-Hortega grant (CM22/00065 to Gabriel Torres Iglesias and CM20/00047 to Elisa Alonso-López) and by Research Project (PI21/00918) from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and co-funded by the European Union and by a grant CA1/RSUE/2021-00753 to Dolores Piniella funded by Ministerio de Universidades, Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia y la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.S

Oral fosfomycin for the treatment of lower urinary tract infections among kidney transplant recipients—Results of a Spanish multicenter cohort

Preliminary results of this study were presented at the 29th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from 13 to 16 April, 2019 (oral communication O‐0699).Oral fosfomycin may constitute an alternative for the treatment of lower urinary tract infections (UTIs) in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), particularly in view of recent safety concerns with fluroquinolones. Specific data on the efficacy and safety of fosfomycin in KTR are scarce. We performed a retrospective study in 14 Spanish hospitals including KTRs treated with oral fosfomycin (calcium and trometamol salts) for posttransplant cystitis between January 2005 and December 2017. A total of 133 KTRs developed 143 episodes of cystitis. Most episodes (131 [91.6%]) were produced by gram‐negative bacilli (GNB), and 78 (54.5%) were categorized as multidrug resistant (including extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae [14%] or carbapenem‐resistant GNB [3.5%]). A median daily dose of 1.5 g of fosfomycin (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.5‐2) was administered for a median of 7 days (IQR: 3‐10). Clinical cure (remission of UTI‐attributable symptoms at the end of therapy) was achieved in 83.9% (120/143) episodes. Among those episodes with follow‐up urine culture, microbiological cure at month 1 was achieved in 70.2% (59/84) episodes. Percutaneous nephrostomy was associated with a lower probability of clinical cure (adjusted odds ratio: 10.50; 95% confidence interval: 0.98‐112.29; P = 0.052). In conclusion, fosfomycin is an effective orally available alternative for treating cystitis among KTRs.This study was supported by Plan Nacional de I+D+i 2013‐2016 and Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD16/0016)—cofinanced by the European Development Regional Fund “A way to achieve Europe”; the Group for Study of Infection in Transplantation and the Immunocompromised Host (GESITRA‐IC) of the Spanish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (SEIMC); and the Spanish Network for Research in Renal Diseases (REDInREN RD16/0009). MFR holds a research contract “Miguel Servet” (CP 18/00073) from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Experiencia de coordinación docente con entornos virtuales en el Grado en Administración y Dirección de Empresas en la Facultad de Ciencias Sociales de Talavera de la Reina.

Los entornos virtuales de enseñanza-aprendizaje (EVEAs) son una herramienta valiosa para el aprendizaje, aunque su utilidad puede ir mucho más allá. En esta ocasión, se ha utilizado la plataforma Moodle para diseñar de manera colaborativa el 1º curso de Grado en ADE dentro de un proyecto de innovación realizado por el grupo docente ADE-Talavera. Este artículo pretende dar a conocer el proceso de coordinación y cooperación en línea que ha posibilitado alcanzar los objetivos planificados: elaboración de guías docentes, planificación de actividades de aprendizaje y evaluación y elaboración de un cronograma integrado para el estudiante. Además, ha propiciado el desarrollo de nuevas competencias en los profesores y ha permitido el acompañamiento y la retroalimentación en tiempo real.The VETLs are a valuable learning tool, but its usefulness goes further. For this occasion we ha ve worked with Moodle platform to design in a collaborative way the first course of the Degree in Business Administration and Management. As a part of an innovation project developed by the teaching group ADE Talavera. This paper aims to divulgare the online coordination and cooperation process that has made possible to reach planned goals: Preparing teaching guides, planning learning and assessment activities, and design of an integrated student's chronogram. Additionally has been pushed the development of new competences in teachers and has allowed the monitoring and live feedback

Experiencia de coordinación docente con entornos virtuales en el Grado en Administración y Dirección de Empresas en la Facultad de Ciencias Sociales de Talavera de la Reina.

Los entornos virtuales de enseñanza-aprendizaje (EVEAs) son una herramienta valiosa para el aprendizaje, aunque su utilidad puede ir mucho más allá. En esta ocasión, se ha utilizado la plataforma Moodle para diseñar de manera colaborativa el 1º curso de Grado en ADE dentro de un proyecto de innovación realizado por el grupo docente ADE-Talavera. Este artículo pretende dar a conocer el proceso de coordinación y cooperación en línea que ha posibilitado alcanzar los objetivos planificados: elaboración de guías docentes, planificación de actividades de aprendizaje y evaluación y elaboración de un cronograma integrado para el estudiante. Además, ha propiciado el desarrollo de nuevas competencias en los profesores y ha permitido el acompañamiento y la retroalimentación en tiempo real.The VETLs are a valuable learning tool, but its usefulness goes further. For this occasion we ha ve worked with Moodle platform to design in a collaborative way the first course of the Degree in Business Administration and Management. As a part of an innovation project developed by the teaching group ADE Talavera. This paper aims to divulgare the online coordination and cooperation process that has made possible to reach planned goals: Preparing teaching guides, planning learning and assessment activities, and design of an integrated student's chronogram. Additionally has been pushed the development of new competences in teachers and has allowed the monitoring and live feedback

Epidemiological trends of HIV/HCV coinfection in Spain, 2015-2019

Objectives: We assessed the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and active HCV infection (HCV-RNA-positive) in people living with HIV (PLWH) in Spain in 2019 and compared the results with those of four similar studies performed during 2015-2018. Methods: The study was performed in 41 centres. Sample size was estimated for an accuracy of 1%. Patients were selected by random sampling with proportional allocation. Results: The reference population comprised 41 973 PLWH, and the sample size was 1325. HCV serostatus was known in 1316 PLWH (99.3%), of whom 376 (28.6%) were HCV antibody (Ab)-positive (78.7% were prior injection drug users); 29 were HCV-RNA-positive (2.2%). Of the 29 HCV-RNA-positive PLWH, infection was chronic in 24, it was acute/recent in one, and it was of unknown duration in four. Cirrhosis was present in 71 (5.4%) PLWH overall, three (10.3%) HCV-RNA-positive patients and 68 (23.4%) of those who cleared HCV after anti-HCV therapy (p = 0.04). The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies decreased steadily from 37.7% in 2015 to 28.6% in 2019 (p < 0.001); the prevalence of active HCV infection decreased from 22.1% in 2015 to 2.2% in 2019 (p < 0.001). Uptake of anti-HCV treatment increased from 53.9% in 2015 to 95.0% in 2019 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In Spain, the prevalence of active HCV infection among PLWH at the end of 2019 was 2.2%, i.e. 90.0% lower than in 2015. Increased exposure to DAAs was probably the main reason for this sharp reduction. Despite the high coverage of treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents, HCV-related cirrhosis remains significant in this population.This work was supported in part by the Spanish AIDS Research Network (RD16/0025/0017, RD16/0025/0018), which is included in the Spanish I+D+I Plan and is co-funded by the ISCIII-Subdirección General de Evaluación and European Funding for Regional Development (FEDER). The sponsors had no role in the study design, the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, the writing of the report, or the decision to submit the article for publication.S

Miradas contemporáneas de los pueblos originarios en México

Este libro resume una amplia discusión sobre el papel que tienen los grupos originarios en México y la condición de las etnias a lo largo del territorio nacional. Desde hace cientos de años los pueblos indígenas y afrodescendientes han sido excluidos del desarrollo central de México, y en mayor o menor medida, estos grupos han ocupado un lugar residual en las políticas públicas de los diferentes gobiernos, y sufrido de manera regular la discriminación por parte del resto de la población.CEDIPIEM, UAEMéx, BUAP, Center for Earth Ethic