The Forcom guides for self assessment teaching Competencies", In the european higuer education area (EHEA): Evaluating its design

Este artículo presenta la validación empírica del diseño de un instrumento concebido para ayudar al profesorado universitario a evaluar sus propias competencias docentes dentro del marco de la convergencia europea: las Guías FORCOM de Autoevaluación de Competencias Docentes. Se confecciona a partir de los datos de una evaluación de necesidades sobre competencias docentes. Se seleccionan 16 profesores/as universitarios con amplia experiencia docente, de 5 universidades y de las diferentes áreas de conocimiento. Tras la auto-aplicación de las guías se recoge información mediante una entrevista en profundidad sobre: a) su manejo (evaluación del formato) y b) su utilidad y adecuación (evaluación del contenido). Tras el análisis de las valoraciones realizadas por los profesores participantes se concluye que: 1) es un instrumento valioso y útil, especialmente para el profesorado que ya tiene alguna experiencia en la implantación del EEES; 2) es una herramienta que permite la autoevaluación del profesorado y, además, propicia la adquisición de algunos conocimientos especializados sobre la enseñanza y el aprendizaje de competencias en el ámbito universitario; y 3) no obstante, el diseño actual debe ser revisado, tanto en su formato (reorganización, extensión Guías, normas de auto-aplicación, etc.) como en su contenido (cantidad de información, terminología didáctica, fundamentación de los resultados...).This paper presents some findings of an evaluation study conducted in five spanish universities on the design of a „FORCOM Guides for Self-Assessment Teaching Competencies‟. This device has been developed to help university teachers to cope with the teaching demands of EHEA. Data collected in a previous teaching needs‟ assessment were the grounds of the very first design of the guide. Sixteen senior university teachers - of any scientific area- had been demanded, firstly, implementing the Guide, and next, they had been required in order to look for their perceptions about: a) the ease and other aspects of practical management of the Guides („format evaluation‟), and b) the utility and suitability of its content to teachers‟ teaching needs („content evaluation‟). Data analysis points to: 1) the validity and utility of the created device, especially for helping wel

Safety and immunomodulatory effects of three probiotic strains isolated from the feces of breast-fed infants in healthy adults: SETOPROB study

We previously described the isolation and characterization of three probiotic strains from the feces of exclusively breast-fed newborn infants: Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM I-4034, Bifidobacterium breve CNCM I-4035 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-4036. These strains were shown to adhere to intestinal mucus in vitro, to be sensitive to antibiotics and to resist biliary salts and low pH. In the present study, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 100 healthy volunteers in three Spanish cities was carried out to evaluate the tolerance, safety, gut colonization and immunomodulatory effects of these three probiotics. Volunteers underwent a 15-day washout period, after which they were randomly divided into 5 groups that received daily a placebo, a capsule containing one of the 3 strains or a capsule containing a mixture of two strains for 30 days. The intervention was followed by another 15-day washout period. Patients did not consume fermented milk for the entire duration of the study. Gastrointestinal symptoms, defecation frequency and stool consistency were not altered by probiotic intake. No relevant changes in blood and serum, as well as no adverse events occurred during or after treatment. Probiotic administration slightly modified bacterial populations in the volunteers’ feces. Intestinal persistence occurred in volunteers who received L. rhamnosus CNCM I-4036. Administration of B. breve CNCM I-4035 resulted in a significant increase in fecal secretory IgA content. IL-4 and IL-10 increased, whereas IL-12 decreased in the serum of volunteers treated with any of the three strains. These results demonstrate that the consumption of these three bacterial strains was safe and exerted varying degrees of immunomodulatory effects.Part of the research currently in progress in the authors' laboratory is funded by the company Hero Spain, S. A. through the grant #3582 managed by the Fundacion General Empresa-Universidad de Granada

Design Trinking y aula invertida. Emprender hacia una educación inclusiva en mujeres con discapacidad auditiva y su inclusión laboral

Se ha seguido investigando sobre el emprendimiento social como competencia transversal “iniciativa y espíritu emprendedor” en las asignaturas de: 1. Bases Teóricas del Trabajo Social, Trabajo Social y Mediación, Trabajo Social Sociosanitarios, Practicum (donde debe realizarse un Proyecto Social); y en la asignatura del Trabajo Fin de Grado (TFG), ayudando a configurar el perfil profesional del alumnado, visualizando nuevas formas de dar respuesta a las necesidades de la población.Desde metodologías innovadoras en la docencia con la utilización de la metodología Design Thinking y el aula invertida

Dendritic cell deficiencies persist seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 infection induces an exacerbated inflammation driven by innate immunity components. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in the defense against viral infections, for instance plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), have the capacity to produce vast amounts of interferon-alpha (IFN-α). In COVID-19 there is a deficit in DC numbers and IFN-α production, which has been associated with disease severity. In this work, we described that in addition to the DC deficiency, several DC activation and homing markers were altered in acute COVID-19 patients, which were associated with multiple inflammatory markers. Remarkably, previously hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients remained with decreased numbers of CD1c+ myeloid DCs and pDCs seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, the expression of DC markers such as CD86 and CD4 were only restored in previously nonhospitalized patients, while no restoration of integrin β7 and indoleamine 2,3-dyoxigenase (IDO) levels were observed. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the immunological sequelae of COVID-19

Spread of a SARS-CoV-2 variant through Europe in the summer of 2020

[EN] Following its emergence in late 2019, the spread of SARS-CoV-21,2 has been tracked by phylogenetic analysis of viral genome sequences in unprecedented detail3,4,5. Although the virus spread globally in early 2020 before borders closed, intercontinental travel has since been greatly reduced. However, travel within Europe resumed in the summer of 2020. Here we report on a SARS-CoV-2 variant, 20E (EU1), that was identified in Spain in early summer 2020 and subsequently spread across Europe. We find no evidence that this variant has increased transmissibility, but instead demonstrate how rising incidence in Spain, resumption of travel, and lack of effective screening and containment may explain the variant’s success. Despite travel restrictions, we estimate that 20E (EU1) was introduced hundreds of times to European countries by summertime travellers, which is likely to have undermined local efforts to minimize infection with SARS-CoV-2. Our results illustrate how a variant can rapidly become dominant even in the absence of a substantial transmission advantage in favourable epidemiological settings. Genomic surveillance is critical for understanding how travel can affect transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and thus for informing future containment strategies as travel resumes.S

Fomento de la inserción laboral desde el aprendizaje servicio y emprendimiento social en los estudiantes del grado de trabajo social

Este proyecto ha seguido las principales líneas definidas en anteriores proyectos de innovación entre los que se encuentran: 1. El Proyecto de Innovación y Mejora de la Calidad Docente de la Convocatoria 2016/2017, con el nº 109, con el tema: “El impulso del emprendimiento como competencia transversal en los estudiantes del Grado de Trabajo Social”, premiado en la VII EDICIÓN de PREMIOS EMPRENDEDOR UNIVERSITARIO UCM, en la 4ª modalidad de Premio Innova docente. 2. El Proyecto de innovación y Mejora de la Calidad Docente de la Convocatoria 2017/2018, con el nº 54, con el tema: “ Red de Empleabilidad y Emprendimiento en los estudiantes del Grado de Trabajo Social” Se ha seguido investigando sobre el emprendimiento social como competencia transversal “iniciativa y espíritu emprendedor” en las asignaturas de: 1. Bases Teóricas del Trabajo Social, 2º Practicum (donde debe realizarse un Proyecto Social); 3. en el Trabajo Fin de Grado (TFG), ayudando a configurar el perfil profesional del alumnado, visualizando nuevas formas de dar respuesta a las necesidades de la población. En otras universidades españolas estos proyectos de innovación, son definidos en sus convocatorias como proyectos de investigación en innovación ya que la innovación conlleva un previo trabajo de investigación. Estas universidades reconocen la investigación que se realiza. En esta línea se encuentran universidades como la Universidad de Alicante, la Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), la Universidad de Barcelona, etc., que definen la convocatoria como redes de investigación e innovación. Este reconocimiento y acreditación ha sido solicitado a la Universidad Complutense el 30 de Junio de 2016 por email. La existencia de emprendedores sociales como referentes históricos que vincularon su actividad universitaria con la innovación social y el progreso de la humanidad, justifican esta línea de trabajo. En este sentido se ha continuado con el Proyecto de Aprendizaje Servicio “UCM_MEDIMAYOR_ ALUMNI”, de formación en mediación a un grupo de mayores pertenecientes al Centro de Día Peñagrande del Ayuntamiento de Madrid. La responsabilidad social de la universidad, puede encontrase en esta función ya que se ha potenciado la adquisición de competencias profesionales a través de la colaboración en la sociedad Se ha continuado trabajando el fortalecimiento del emprendimiento social relacionado con el desarrollo social y humano, para la realización de una sociedad más equitativa y participativa desde distintas iniciativas que motiven la participación y la cooperación en esta sociedad desde sus instituciones. Entre los resultados obtenidos está la presentación a los estudiantes de buenas prácticas de emprendedores sociales y de estudiantes que han conseguido su inserción laboral, con el fin de incentivar la generación de nuevas experiencias en los estudiantes del Grado de Trabajo Social. Se destaca el hecho de que 12 estudiantes han terminado con un contrato de trabajo en su centro de practicas externas

RICORS2040 : The need for collaborative research in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a silent and poorly known killer. The current concept of CKD is relatively young and uptake by the public, physicians and health authorities is not widespread. Physicians still confuse CKD with chronic kidney insufficiency or failure. For the wider public and health authorities, CKD evokes kidney replacement therapy (KRT). In Spain, the prevalence of KRT is 0.13%. Thus health authorities may consider CKD a non-issue: very few persons eventually need KRT and, for those in whom kidneys fail, the problem is 'solved' by dialysis or kidney transplantation. However, KRT is the tip of the iceberg in the burden of CKD. The main burden of CKD is accelerated ageing and premature death. The cut-off points for kidney function and kidney damage indexes that define CKD also mark an increased risk for all-cause premature death. CKD is the most prevalent risk factor for lethal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the factor that most increases the risk of death in COVID-19, after old age. Men and women undergoing KRT still have an annual mortality that is 10- to 100-fold higher than similar-age peers, and life expectancy is shortened by ~40 years for young persons on dialysis and by 15 years for young persons with a functioning kidney graft. CKD is expected to become the fifth greatest global cause of death by 2040 and the second greatest cause of death in Spain before the end of the century, a time when one in four Spaniards will have CKD. However, by 2022, CKD will become the only top-15 global predicted cause of death that is not supported by a dedicated well-funded Centres for Biomedical Research (CIBER) network structure in Spain. Realizing the underestimation of the CKD burden of disease by health authorities, the Decade of the Kidney initiative for 2020-2030 was launched by the American Association of Kidney Patients and the European Kidney Health Alliance. Leading Spanish kidney researchers grouped in the kidney collaborative research network Red de Investigación Renal have now applied for the Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS) call for collaborative research in Spain with the support of the Spanish Society of Nephrology, Federación Nacional de Asociaciones para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades del Riñón and ONT: RICORS2040 aims to prevent the dire predictions for the global 2040 burden of CKD from becoming true

Key Factors Associated With Pulmonary Sequelae in the Follow-Up of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

Introduction: Critical COVID-19 survivors have a high risk of respiratory sequelae. Therefore, we aimed to identify key factors associated with altered lung function and CT scan abnormalities at a follow-up visit in a cohort of critical COVID-19 survivors. Methods: Multicenter ambispective observational study in 52 Spanish intensive care units. Up to 1327 PCR-confirmed critical COVID-19 patients had sociodemographic, anthropometric, comorbidity and lifestyle characteristics collected at hospital admission; clinical and biological parameters throughout hospital stay; and, lung function and CT scan at a follow-up visit. Results: The median [p25–p75] time from discharge to follow-up was 3.57 [2.77–4.92] months. Median age was 60 [53–67] years, 27.8% women. The mean (SD) percentage of predicted diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) at follow-up was 72.02 (18.33)% predicted, with 66% of patients having DLCO < 80% and 24% having DLCO < 60%. CT scan showed persistent pulmonary infiltrates, fibrotic lesions, and emphysema in 33%, 25% and 6% of patients, respectively. Key variables associated with DLCO < 60% were chronic lung disease (CLD) (OR: 1.86 (1.18–2.92)), duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (OR: 1.56 (1.37–1.77)), age (OR [per-1-SD] (95%CI): 1.39 (1.18–1.63)), urea (OR: 1.16 (0.97–1.39)) and estimated glomerular filtration rate at ICU admission (OR: 0.88 (0.73–1.06)). Bacterial pneumonia (1.62 (1.11–2.35)) and duration of ventilation (NIMV (1.23 (1.06–1.42), IMV (1.21 (1.01–1.45)) and prone positioning (1.17 (0.98–1.39)) were associated with fibrotic lesions. Conclusion: Age and CLD, reflecting patients’ baseline vulnerability, and markers of COVID-19 severity, such as duration of IMV and renal failure, were key factors associated with impaired DLCO and CT abnormalities

Clustering COVID-19 ARDS patients through the first days of ICU admission. An analysis of the CIBERESUCICOVID Cohort

Background Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can be classified into sub-phenotypes according to different inflammatory/clinical status. Prognostic enrichment was achieved by grouping patients into hypoinflammatory or hyperinflammatory sub-phenotypes, even though the time of analysis may change the classification according to treatment response or disease evolution. We aimed to evaluate when patients can be clustered in more than 1 group, and how they may change the clustering of patients using data of baseline or day 3, and the prognosis of patients according to their evolution by changing or not the cluster.Methods Multicenter, observational prospective, and retrospective study of patients admitted due to ARDS related to COVID-19 infection in Spain. Patients were grouped according to a clustering mixed-type data algorithm (k-prototypes) using continuous and categorical readily available variables at baseline and day 3.Results Of 6205 patients, 3743 (60%) were included in the study. According to silhouette analysis, patients were grouped in two clusters. At baseline, 1402 (37%) patients were included in cluster 1 and 2341(63%) in cluster 2. On day 3, 1557(42%) patients were included in cluster 1 and 2086 (57%) in cluster 2. The patients included in cluster 2 were older and more frequently hypertensive and had a higher prevalence of shock, organ dysfunction, inflammatory biomarkers, and worst respiratory indexes at both time points. The 90-day mortality was higher in cluster 2 at both clustering processes (43.8% [n = 1025] versus 27.3% [n = 383] at baseline, and 49% [n = 1023] versus 20.6% [n = 321] on day 3). Four hundred and fifty-eight (33%) patients clustered in the first group were clustered in the second group on day 3. In contrast, 638 (27%) patients clustered in the second group were clustered in the first group on day 3.Conclusions During the first days, patients can be clustered into two groups and the process of clustering patients may change as they continue to evolve. This means that despite a vast majority of patients remaining in the same cluster, a minority reaching 33% of patients analyzed may be re-categorized into different clusters based on their progress. Such changes can significantly impact their prognosis