Cigarette smoke induces pulmonary arterial dysfunction through an imbalance in the redox status of the soluble guanylyl cyclase

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whose main risk factor is cigarette smoking (CS), is one of the most common diseases globally. Some COPD patients also develop pulmonary hypertension (PH), a severe complication that leads to premature death. Evidence suggests reactive oxygen species (ROS) involvement in COPD and PH, especially regarding pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) dysfunction. However, the effects of CS-driven oxidative stress on the pulmonary vasculature are not completely understood. Herein we provide evidence on the effects of CS extract (CSE) exposure on PASMC regarding ROS production, antioxidant response and its consequences on vascular tone dysregulation. Our results indicate that CSE exposure promotes mitochondrial fission, mitochondrial membrane depolarization and increased mitochondrial superoxide levels. However, this superoxide increase did not parallel a counterbalancing antioxidant response in human pulmonary artery (PA) cells. Interestingly, the mitochondrial superoxide scavenger mitoTEMPO reduced mitochondrial fission and membrane potential depolarization caused by CSE. As we have previously shown, CSE reduces PA vasoconstriction and vasodilation. In this respect, mitoTEMPO prevented the impaired nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation, while vasoconstriction remained reduced. Finally, we observed a CSE-driven downregulation of the Cyb5R3 enzyme, which prevents soluble guanylyl cyclase oxidation in PASMC. This might explain the CSE-mediated decrease in PA vasodilation. These results provide evidence that there might be a connection between mitochondrial ROS and altered vasodilation responses in PH secondary to COPD, and strongly support the potential of antioxidant strategies specifically targeting mitochondria as a new therapy for these diseasesThe Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, ´ Programa Retos en Investigacion ´ (grant number PID2019-104406RB-100) to MJC provided the financial support for the conduct of the research included in this manuscript. Garantia Juvenil program from Comunidad de Madrid contributed with the research assistant contract to M-R,

Acceptability and feasibility of a virtual community of practice to primary care professionals regarding patient empowerment: A qualitative pilot study

Background: Virtual communities of practice (vCoPs) facilitate online learning via the exchange of experiences and knowledge between interested participants. Compared to other communities, vCoPs need to overcome technological structures and specific barriers. Our objective was to pilot the acceptability and feasibility of a vCoP aimed at improving the attitudes of primary care professionals to the empowerment of patients with chronic conditions. Methods: We used a qualitative approach based on 2 focus groups: one composed of 6 general practitioners and the other of 6 practice nurses. Discussion guidelines on the topics to be investigated were provided to the moderator. Sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was performed using the ATLAS-ti software. Results: The available operating systems and browsers and the lack of suitable spaces and time were reported as the main difficulties with the vCoP. The vCoP was perceived to be a flexible learning mode that provided up-to-date resources applicable to routine practice and offered a space for the exchange of experiences and approaches. Conclusions: The results from this pilot study show that the vCoP was considered useful for learning how to empower patients. However, while vCoPs have the potential to facilitate learning and as shown create professional awareness regarding patient empowerment, attention needs to be paid to technological and access issues and the time demands on professionals. We collected relevant inputs to improve the features, content and educational methods to be included in further vCoP implementation. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02757781. Registered on 25 April 2016.This study was financed by Instituto de Salud Carlos III and Cofinanced by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Gobierno de España. (PI15/00164, PI15/00586, PI15/00566

Acceptability and feasibility of a virtual community of practice to primary care professionals regarding patient empowerment : A qualitative pilot study

Background: Virtual communities of practice (vCoPs) facilitate online learning via the exchange of experiences and knowledge between interested participants. Compared to other communities, vCoPs need to overcome technological structures and specific barriers. Our objective was to pilot the acceptability and feasibility of a vCoP aimed at improving the attitudes of primary care professionals to the empowerment of patients with chronic conditions. Methods: We used a qualitative approach based on 2 focus groups: one composed of 6 general practitioners and the other of 6 practice nurses. Discussion guidelines on the topics to be investigated were provided to the moderator. Sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was performed using the ATLAS-ti software. Results: The available operating systems and browsers and the lack of suitable spaces and time were reported as the main difficulties with the vCoP. The vCoP was perceived to be a flexible learning mode that provided up-to-date resources applicable to routine practice and offered a space for the exchange of experiences and approaches. Conclusions: The results from this pilot study show that the vCoP was considered useful for learning how to empower patients. However, while vCoPs have the potential to facilitate learning and as shown create professional awareness regarding patient empowerment, attention needs to be paid to technological and access issues and the time demands on professionals. We collected relevant inputs to improve the features, content and educational methods to be included in further vCoP implementation. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02757781. Registered on 25 April 2016

Repercusión nutricional de la cirugía bariátrica según técnica de Scopinaro: análisis de 40 casos Nutritional effect of bariatric surgery with Scopinaro operation: analysis of 40 cases

Objetivos: Analizar la repercusión de la cirugía bariátrica sobre los valores de antropometría absoluta y relativa, parámetros bioquímicos y niveles vitamínicos tras un año de seguimiento y estudiar la posible influencia del sexo, la longitud del canal común y el grado de esteatorrea en estos pacientes. Material y métodos: Se estudiaron retrospectivamente 40 pacientes (28 mujeres y 12 varones) de edad media de 38 ± 12 años (18-62) a los que se les practicó derivación biliopancreática según técnica de Scopinaro dejando 70- 120 cm de canal común y seguidos durante el año posterior a la realización de esta cirugía. Se procedió a control de parámetros antropométricos: índice de masa corporal (IMC), cincunferencia cintura cadera (CC); parámetros bioquímicos: glucosa, ácido úrico, lípidos plasmáticos, proteínas de vida media corta, transaminasas y hemograma; niveles de vitaminas A, E, D, B12, C y ácido fólico y el grado de esteatorrea, que se realizaron antes y un año después de la cirugía. Resultados: Se logró una pérdida de peso del 29,7% ± 2,9 sin diferencia entre ambos sexos. En cuanto a los parámetros bioquímicos se constató una reducción estadísticamente significativa en las cifras de colesterol total, triglicéridos, ácido úrico y transaminasas (p Objectives: To analyze the influence of bariatric surgery over nutritional status in patients with morbid obesity after 1 year of following. To know the influence of specific factors as age, sex and common channel´s length. Design: Retrospective study from 1998-2001. Subject: All patients suffering from morbid obesity that had been operated during this period of time, 40 subjects: 28 women and 12 men with a mean age of 38 ± 12 years old. Were studied. Methods: We analyzed the variations of weight and other anthropometric measures, biochemical parameters and the micronutrient (vitamins A, D, E, B12, folate, C, zinc, Calcium, Magnesium) status during 1 year of following after surgery. Results: Percentage weight loss was 29.7 ± 2.9% without sex differences. A significant (p < 0.005) descent of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and uric acid level as well as liver function markers was observed. All the hyperglycemic disturbances were reverted. 97% and 48% of the patients developped hypovitaminosis A and D respectively, that was correlated to steatorrhea. Vitamin E deficiency was found in 72% of the patients, and zinc deficiency in 68% Conclusions: Our expected weight loss 1 year after bariatric surgery is 30%, irrespective of sex and age. This loss is accompanied by a significant improvement in metabolic parameters, but the high prevalence of micronutrients deficiency that was found makes an early supplementation and close follow-in of these patients very advisable

Taxonomic biodiversity of geniculate coralline red algae (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) from the Macaronesian region: summary and analysis

Copyright © Springer-Verlag and AWI 2011.The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com.A catalog and critical review of species and infraspecific taxa of non-fossil geniculate coralline red algae (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) previously reported from the Macaronesian region are presented along with an assessment of species diversity in the region. Published records of geniculate coralline algae are included along with comments relating to type material. Within the catalog, taxa are organized alphabetically by genus and within this by final epithet. From the 31 taxa recorded, 4 are based on type collections from Macaronesian localities. The types of most species and infraspecific taxa reported from the region have yet to be re-examined in a modern context, and most Macaronesian records require verification. The biodiversity of Macaronesian geniculate coralline algae may be lower than current information indicates