Therapeutic and prophylactic uses of invertebrates in contemporary Spanish ethnoveterinary medicine

Zootherapeutic practices in ethnoveterinary medicine are important in many socio-cultural environments around the world, particularly in developing countries, and they have recently started to be inventoried and studied in Europe. In light of this, the purpose of this review is to describe the local knowledge and folk remedies based on the use of invertebrates and their derivative products in contemporary Spanish ethnoveterinary medicine. An overview in the fields of ethnozoology, ethnoveterinary medicine and folklore was made. Automated searches in the most important databases were performed. All related works were examined thoroughly and use-reports were obtained from 53 documentary sources. The traditional use of 18 invertebrate species and five ethnotaxa and a total of 86 empirical remedies based on the use of a single species was recorded. The two most relevant zoological groups were found to be insects and molluscs. A broad diversity of body parts or derivative products have been and are used to treat or prevent ca. 50 animal diseases or conditions, in particular diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, different infectious livestock diseases, and disorders of the eye and adnexa. Cattle, sheep and equines form the group of domestic animals in which the greatest number of remedies are mentioned. In addition, seven magical remedies and practices are documented. In comparison with other culturally related areas, this is a rich heritage. The use-reports included here will help in the search for new and low-cost drugs for treating livestock and alternative materials for pharmaceutical purposes, future research addressing the validation of the effects and the development of organic farming.peerReviewe

Cáncer de pulmón en el área sanitaria de Pontevedra: características clínicas, anatomopatológicas y factores pronósticos

Dada su elevada incidencia y mortalidad, el cáncer de pulmón se ha convertido en un serio problema de salud, por lo cual genera un interés relevante tanto entre los investigadores como entre el personal sanitario con actividad asistencial relacionada con esta enfermedad. El conocimiento de la situación de cada enfermedad en una población es otro aspecto de suma importancia para establecer los criterios científicos más adecuados en la población en cuestión, dado que es bien conocida la variabilidad en la expresión clínica de esta enfermedad entre diferentes poblaciones. Asimismo, se han evidenciado importantes diferencias en el manejo diagnóstico y terapéutico de esta enfermedad, aún entre poblaciones cercanas, con un mismo sistema de salud, lo cual hace aún más difícil extrapolar los resultados de unos hospitales a otros. También se observaron disparidades entre los factores que pueden condicionar estas diferencias en los circuitos asistenciales, así como la influencia de cada factor en el desarrollo de cada circuito concreto. En este trabajo hemos analizado todos los casos incidentes de cáncer de pulmón diagnosticados en el área sanitaria del Complexo Hospitalario de Pontevedra a lo largo de tres años (desde 1 de junio de 2005 hasta 31 de mayo de 2008)., estudiando aspectos epidemiológicos, diagnósticos, histológicos, clínicos, terapéuticos y pronósticos

Estimación de la distribución multivariada de los rendimientos de los tipos de cambio contra el dólar de las criptomonedas Bitcoin, Ripple y Ether

En este artículo se estima la distribución multivariada para analizar la dependencia del Bitcoin (BTC), Ripple (XRP) y Ether (ETH). Se utiliza la familia Hiperbólica Generalizada de distribuciones (GH) y en particular la distribución Varianza Gamma.  El procedimiento para la estimación de los parámetros de la GH es a través del algoritmo EM (Expectation-Maximization). Los resultados muestran que existe una dependencia positiva entre los tres tipos de cambio respecto del dólar americano y se estima una distribución Varianza-Gamma de dimensión tres. Esta distribución es muy flexible para el ajuste de series de los rendimientos con leptocurtosis y sesgo. Esta información se considera importante para los inversionistas que conforman sus portafolios de una manera eficiente.(Estimation of the multivariate distribution of exchange rate yields against the dollar of the Cryptocurrencies Bitcoin, Ripple and Ether)In this paper we estimated the multivariate distribution among Bitcoin (BTC), Ripple (XRP) and Ether (ETH) to analyze the dependence. We used the Hyperbolic Generalized (GH) family of distributions and in particular the Variance-Gamma distribution. The procedure for the estimation of the parameters of the GH distribution is through the EM (Expectation-Maximization) algorithm. The results show that there exists a positive dependence among the three exchange rates with respect to the American dollar and a Variance-Gamma distribution of dimension three is estimated. This distribution is very flexible for the adjustment of returns with leptokurtosis and skewness. This distribution is very flexible for the adjustment of the returns with leptokurtosis and skewness. The information is important for the investors who construct their portfolios in an efficient way

A New Competence-based Approach for Personalizing MOOCs in a Mobile Collaborative and Networked Environment

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are a new disruptive development in higher education that combines openness and scalability in a most powerful way. They have the potential to widen participation in higher education. Thus, they contribute to social inclusion, the dissemination of knowledge and pedagogical innovation and also the internationalization of higher education institutions. However, one of the critical elements for a massive open language learning experience to be successful is to empower learners and to facilitate networked learning experiences. In fact, MOOCs are designed for an undefined number of participants, thus serving a high heterogeneity of profiles, with diverse learning styles and prior knowledge, and also contexts of participation and diversity of online platforms. Personalization can play a key role in this process. The iMOOC pedagogical model introduced the notion of diversity to MOOC design, allowing for a clear differentiation of learning paths and also virtual environments. In this article, the authors present a proposal based on the iMOOC approach for a new framework for personalizing and adapting MOOCs designed in a collaborative, networked pedagogical approach by identifying each participant's competence profile and prior knowledge, as well as the respective mobile communication device used to generate matching personalized learning. This article also shows the results obtained in a laboratory environment after an experiment has been performed with a prototype of the framework. It can be observed that creating personalized learning paths is possible and the next step is to test this framework with real experimental groups.Los cursos en línea masivos y abiertos (MOOC) son una nueva tendencia rompedora en la educación superior. Estos cursos combinan la propiedad de ser abiertos con la posibilidad de ser escalables de una forma muy potente. Tienen el potencial de permitir la participación en la educación superior para todas las personas, a todos los niveles. Por lo tanto, contribuyen a la inclusión social, la difusión del conocimiento y la innovación pedagógica, así como la internalización de las instituciones de educación superior. Sin embargo, uno de los elementos críticos para que tenga éxito una experiencia de aprendizaje de forma abierta y masiva es potenciar y facilitar una red de aprendizaje. De hecho, los MOOC no están diseñados para un número predefinido de participantes por lo que sirven para un alto número de perfiles heterogéneos, con diversidad de estilos de aprendizaje y conocimientos previos, pero también contextos de participación y diversidad de plataformas online. La personalización puede desempeñar un papel clave en este proceso. El modelo pedagógico iMOOC introdujo el principio de diversidad en el diseño de MOOC, permitiendo una clara diferenciación de caminos de aprendizaje y también entornos virtuales. En este artículo los autores presentan una propuesta basada en el enfoque de iMOOC, sobre un nuevo sistema para la personalización y adaptación de MOOC diseñados en un enfoque colaborativo y en una red pedagógica. El mecanismo es identificar cada competencia del perfil de los participantes, el conocimiento previo que estos tienen así como detectar sus respectivos dispositivos móviles, y se genera un camino de aprendizaje personalizado en base a estos parámetros. Este artículo también muestra los resultados obtenidos en un entorno de laboratorio después de un experimento llevado a cabo con un prototipo del sistema. Se puede observar que es posible crear caminos de aprendizaje personalizados y que el siguiente paso es probar este sistema con grupos experimentales reales

Decision-Tree-Based Approach for Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment in Immobilized Patients

Applications where data mining tools are used in the fields of medicine and nursing are becoming more and more frequent. Among them, decision trees have been applied to different health data, such as those associated with pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcers represent a health problem with a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of immobilized patients and on the quality of life of affected people and their families. Nurses provide comprehensive care to immobilized patients. This fact results in an increased workload that can be a risk factor for the development of serious health problems. Healthcare work with evidence-based practice with an objective criterion for a nursing professional is an essential addition for the application of preventive measures. In this work, two ways for conducting a pressure ulcer risk assessment based on a decision tree approach are provided. The first way is based on the activity and mobility characteristics of the Braden scale, whilst the second way is based on the activity, mobility and skin moisture characteristics. The results provided in this study endow nursing professionals with a foundation in relation to the use of their experience and objective criteria for quick decision making regarding the risk of a patient to develop a pressure ulcer.Consejeria de Salud, Junta de Andalucia (Fundacion Publica Andaluza Progreso y Salud) AP-0086-201

Genetic polymorphism, medical therapy and sequential cardiac function in patients with heart failure

FUNDAMENTO: Variantes funcionais do gene da enzima conversora da angiotensina (ECA) podem estar associados com a resposta à terapia em portadores de insuficiência cardíaca (IC). OBJETIVO: Testar a hipótese de diferenças na avaliação ecocardiográfica seqüencial da fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo de pacientes com IC em tratamento farmacológico, inclusive com inibidores da ECA, em relação ao polimorfismo de inserção (I) e deleção (D) do gene da ECA. MÉTODOS: Estudamos 168 pacientes (média de idade 43,3±10,1 anos), 128 (76,2%) dos quais homens, com IC e ecocardiogramas seqüenciais. O polimorfismo I/D foi determinado por reação em cadeia da polimerase. A fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) foi analisada comparativamente aos genótipos. Mais de 90% dos pacientes estavam tomando inibidores da ECA. RESULTADOS: Houve um aumento significantemente maior na FEVE média em pacientes com o alelo D, em comparação com pacientes com genótipo II (p = 0,01) após um seguimento médio de 38,9 meses. O alelo D foi associado com aumento de 8,8% na FEVE média no mesmo período. Além disso, observou-se uma tendência para um efeito do "número de cópias" do alelo D sobre o aumento da FEVE média com o tempo: uma diferença de 3,5% na variação da FEVE entre os pacientes com genótipos II e ID (p = 0,03) e de 5% entre os pacientes com genótipos II e DD (p = 0,02). CONCLUSÃO: O polimorfismo de deleção do gene da ECA pode estar associado com a resposta ao tratamento farmacológico com inibidores da ECA em portadores de IC. Outros estudos controlados poderão contribuir para uma melhor compreensão das influências genéticas sobre a resposta à terapia.BACKGROUND: Functional variants of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene may be associated with response to therapy in patients with heart failure (HF). OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis of differences in sequential echocardiographic evaluations of left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with HF on medical therapy, including ACE inhibitors in relation to insertion (I) / deletion (D) polymorphism of the ACE gene. METHODS: We studied 168 patients (mean age 43.3±10.1 years), 128 (76.2%) men, with HF and sequential echocardiograms. The I/D polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was analyzed comparatively to genotypes. More than 90% of patients were on ACE inhibitors. RESULTS: There was a significantly greater increase in mean LVEF in patients with the D allele compared to patients with the II genotype (p=0.01) after a mean follow-up of 38.9 months. The D allele was associated with an increase of 8.8% in mean LVEF over the same period. Furthermore, there was a tendency toward a D allele "copy number" effect on the increase of mean LVEF over time: a 3.5% difference in LVEF variation between patients with the II and the ID genotypes (p = 0.03) and a 5% difference between patients with the II and DD genotypes (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: ACE gene deletion polymorphism may be operative in response to medical treatment that included ACE inhibitors in patients with HF. Further controlled studies may contribute to better understanding of genetic influences on response to therapy

Comparative Study of the Oxidative Degradation of Different 4-Aminobenzene Sulfonamides in Aqueous Solution by Sulfite Activation in the Presence of Fe(0), Fe(II), Fe(III) or Fe(VI)

This study is focused on advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs) using the combined effect of Fe(0–VI)/sulfite systems, that produce mainly SO4 radicals, to remove di erent 4-aminobenzene sulfonamides (SAs), namely sulfamethazine, sulfadiazine, sulfamethizole, from aqueous solutions. Results obtained showed that neither sulfite nor iron alone is able to degrade SAs; however, the combined effect depends on the oxidation state of iron species whose effectiveness to activate sulfite to promote the degradation of SAs increased following this order: Fe(III) < Fe(II) < Fe(0) < Fe(VI). Using Fe(VI)/sulfite, the complete removal of SAs was obtained in 5 min largely surpassing the effectiveness of the other three systems. The sulfonamides’ removal percentage was markedly influenced by sulfite concentration and dissolved oxygen, which improved the generation of oxidant radicals. Response surface methodology was applied, and a quadratic polynomial model was obtained, which allowed us to determine the percentage of SAs degradation as a function of both the iron species and sulfite concentrations. The study of the influence of the water matrix on these AOTs revealed an inhibition of SAs’ removal percentage when using ground water. This is probably due to the presence of different anions, such as HCO3 -, Cl-, and SO4 2- in relatively high concentrations. According to the byproducts identified, the proposed degradation pathways include hydroxylation, SO2 extrusion, and different bond-cleavage processes. Cytotoxicity of degradation byproducts, using MTS assay with HEK 293 and J774 cell lines for the first time, did not show an inhibition in cell proliferation, sustaining the safety of the process.This research was funded by both Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain, grant number CTQ2016-80978-C2-1-R, and CONACyT (Mexico), grant number 407494

Visual authoring of virtual reality conversational scenarios for e‑learning

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to face-to-face activities being developed in a virtual format that often offers a poor experience in areas such as education. Virtual Learning Environments have improved in recent years thanks to new technologies such as Virtual Reality or Chatbots. However, creating Virtual Learning Environments requires advanced programming knowledge, so this work is aimed to enable teachers to create these new environments easily. This work presents a set of extensions for App Inventor that facilitate the authoring of mobile learning apps that use Chatbots in a Virtual Reality environment, while simultaneously monitoring of student activity. This proposal is based on integrating block-based languages and Business Process Model and Notation diagrams. The developed extensions were successfully implemented in an educational app called Let’s date!. A quantitative analysis of the use of these extensions in App Inventor was also carried out, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of blocks required. The proposed contribution has demonstrated its validity in creating virtual learning environments through visual programming and modelling, reducing development complexity

Trypanosoma evansi: ultrastructural cardiac muscle and cardiac microvasculature changes in experimental murine infections

Background:  :  :  : Trypanosoma evansi is the etiologic agent of the equine trypanosomosis, a disease related to the detriment of the extensive bovine farming in the Venezuelan grasslands. Even though macroscopic pathologies such as anemia, pale mucosa, icteric tissues, generalized edema, splenomegaly, liver and renal hypertrophy, abortion, anoestrus, emaciation, lymphadenopathies, striated muscle atrophy as well as epicardiac and endocardiac hemorrhages have been describedfor infections with the agent, no reports of any heart ultrastructural change in experimental or natural infections induced by Venezuelan T.evansi isolates are available. This, a transmission electron microscopic approach to the problem was needed. This work describes cell features of the cardiac myocyte and the cardiac microvasculature ultrastructure in mice experimentally infected with an equine local isolate of T. evansi, also providing an account of the infection with the mice’s survival. Material, Methods & Results: NMRI Mus musculus were inoculated with a Venezuelan T. evansi isolate derived from a naturally infected Equus caballus. From day three post-infection, and every other day until the mice’s death, one rodent was randomly sacrificed, the heart apex was isosmotically removed and cut in symmetrical blocks, which were fixed, post-fixed, dehydrated, infiltrated, included, sectioned, contrasted and studied by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), with the subsequent characterization of the cardiac myocyte and the cardiac microvasculature transformations. The evaluation of the micrographs demonstrated ultrastructural time-increasing harmful mitochondrial alterations that included reduction in the number of mitochondria per cell, decrease in mitochondrial dimensions and lessening of the number of cristae per mitochondrion. Myofibrillar destruction, myofilament loss and atrophy were also evident. In addition, damaging augmentation of the vascular endothelium thickness, appearance of abnormal endothelial projections and caveolae loss were incontestable changes. The presence of trypanosomes in the lumen of the heart capillary system was indubitable; however, neither intraendothelial nor intra-cardiac myocyte parasites were observed; no inter-tissular parasites were found either. Discussion: The ultrastructural modifications in the muscular heart tissue and in the heart capillaries of experimentally infected mice with a Venezuelan isolate of T. evansi, derived from a feral domesticated E. caballus, were incontrovertible being characterized by the deleterious gradual mitochondrial decline. In such a context, the close relationship between the mitochondrion and the ribosome disposition is related to protein synthesis being associated to diverse functions and stress reactions to non-proper substances like T. evansi, such circumstance could lead to cardiac myocyte mitochondrial deterioration. Additionally, changes in the mitochondrial dimensions and/or the number of cristae/mitochondrion are related to the mitochondrial enzyme activity. The myofilament loss and the myofibrillar destruction reported in this work could derive from the capillary damage per se. The overexpression of serum deprivation protein response induces caveolae deformation and endothelial cell membrane tubulation. The heart’s myodamage could be additionally caused by autoimmunity and/or electrolytic unbalance induced by the trypanosome. The endothelial cell detriment could be the result of a distant effect of parasitic toxic catabolites, intense edema, hypoxia and/or ischemia. The atrophy was put in evidence by a growing volume reduction as a result of myofibril loss probably due to collateral ischemic and hypoxic mechanisms caused by the parasite. Furthermore, the effect due to toxins could cause intramuscular microvasculature damage, hypoxia and fibrillar atrophy.The trypanosomes were present in the cardiac capillary circulation, being able, as an inducible result of the liberation of active materials, to provoke mononuclear and polymorphonuclear infiltration, contributing to the inflammatory response.The subcellular damage in the cardiac myocites and in the cardiac microvascularure, along with the presence of trypanosomes in the coronary circulation, and the lack of association between parasites and cardiac myocites or parasites and cardiac endothelial cells, are attributes with a remarkable pathological meaning since it represents a non described phenomenon of gradual ultrastructural change that take part of the events, resulting in the murine host death through a degenerative mechanism