Designing training for teaching environmental toxicology to specialized pharmacists

ntroduction: The Toxicology Unit at the University of Alcala (Spain) started to provide a novel short-term training course in environmental toxicology for pharmacists enrolled in the postgraduate specialty "Specialist in Industrial Pharmacy and Galenicals" in 2013-2014. This specialty is only available to state-board certified pharmacists considering enrolling in a specialized health training program. Objective: The objective was to create a short, dynamic, and interactive highly specialized training workshop to introduce future professionals to the subject of environmental toxicology and public health. The success of this novel short training course and the interest of the students in environmental toxicology were also analyzed. Methods: A specialized training workshop in environmental toxicology was developed for pharmacists who often have a limited knowledge of environmental health. The training workshop consisted of both theoretical and practical sessions. The practical exercise was highly dynamic and involved identifying potential human risks from pharmaceuticals and care products in water environments as well as the development of a protection and remediation strategy. Results: Following successful training pharmacists demonstrated good understanding of the source-pathway-receptor model and were capable of tailoring strategies to protect human health and future generations. Conclusions: The novel short training course was successful in developing postgraduate students' knowledge of environmental toxicology by providing a practical introduction to environmental health. The methods described here may be used for designing longer training events or courses of environmental toxicology for pharmacists who wish to work in the industry

Spanish society's perceptions about socially responsible investing

The debate surrounding the financial needs of investors and the impact on society of investment is considered to be an important research topic due to the growth of socially responsible financial markets. The objective of this research is to study the perception of the Spanish public about socially responsible investing (SRI) criteria and real-life investment needs. To examine the Spanish perception of SRI, we conducted a field survey. The results show that SRI is in an early stage and Spanish investors need more exact information regarding social, environmental, and governance criteria in order to invest in socially responsible companies and products

Changes in the influence of board characterisitcs on corporate results due to the recent global financial crisis

The main purpose of this study is to analyse the changes caused by the global financial crisis on the influence of board characteristics on corporate results, in terms of corporate performance, corporate risk-taking, and earnings management. Sample comprises S&P 500 listed firms during 2002-2008. This study reveals that the environmental conditions call for different behaviour from directors to fulfil their responsibilities and suggests changes in normative and voluntary guidelines for improving good practices in the boardroom

Analyse bioclimatique de la Maison Jacobs II de Frank Lloyd Wright

Análisis de la segunda viivenda que Frank Lloyd Wright diseñó para la familia Jacobs

La casa Jacob I de Frank Lloyd Wright: un hito en la arquitectura bioclimática

Análisis de la casa Jacobs I como modelo de referencia de Arquitectura Bioclimática. Análisis constructivo y medioambienta

Features of non-kinship foster care children with birth family contact in Andalusia

The aim of the presentation is to describe the personal features of non-kinship foster care children who have visits with their birth family in Málaga, Granada and Jaén (provinces of Andalusia, Spain). This study was funded by the research project Application of a psychoeducational intervention program to improve visits between foster children and their biological families (Reference EDU2016 77094-P). SPSS v.21.0 was used to carry out the descriptive and frequency analysis of socio-demographic information collected by the Child File Summary Form designed for this study. There are 212 non-kinship foster care children who have visits with their birth family. Their mean age is 8.09 years old (SD= 4.73). The more frequent types of foster care are both long-term and short-term placement (30.7%, respectively), followed by specialized long-term foster care (20.3%), urgency placement (10.8%) and specialized short-term foster care (7.5%). The period of time they have been into the Child Protection System is on average 4.08 years (SD= 3.88) and into the current placement is on average 2.53 (SD= 2.95). Thus, 44.8% of foster children were in residential care and 30.2% were in previous foster care. The latter could have been with the current foster care family. Also, 41.0% of foster children were placed at least with one sibling. It is important to know the features of foster children in order to apply the main principle of “the best interests of the child” to the whole decision-making process about the child’s protection and welfare. In our project, these decisions concern foster care placement and birth family contact to maintain and strengthen family affective bonds and child’s identity formation. Our findings contribute to develop: (a) initiatives to improve children’s well-being; (b) support and social resources required by families; and (c) socio-educative tools for the social workers.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Features of birth families with foster children in Andalusia

The aim of the presentation is to describe the personal features of biological families whose children are in non-kinship foster care and with whom they have face-to-face contact in Málaga, Granada and Jaén (provinces of Andalusia, Spain). This study was funded by the research project Application of a psychoeducational intervention program to improve visits between foster children and their biological families (Reference EDU2016 77094-P). SPSS v.21.0 was used to carry out the descriptive and frequency analysis of socio-demographic information collected by the Child File Summary Form designed for this study. The results show the difficulties experienced by birth families to deal with the responsibility of parenthood. There is a high percentage of unemployment (54.5% mothers, 46.4% fathers), and a low level of education (61.7% uneducated mothers, 68.8% uneducated fathers). Furthermore, it is necessary to consider their diverse personal problems which undermine their competences to bring up and educate their children: substance abuse, mental health issues, mental disability and prison. Finally, the lack of relation between Social Services and birth families is highlighted. Knowing the circumstances of families at psychosocial risk permits to develop social policies that match with their specific necessities, by providing them the support and resources required, in line with Recommendation Rec(2006)19 of the Committee of Ministers to member states. Moreover, children and families’ rights have to be respected, such as their right to have contact to maintain and strengthen their affective bonds as part of their identity. These findings will contribute to design: (a) family intervention programs which allow parents to acquire the necessary parental skills; (b) support and educational tools for the social workers; and (c) projects to contribute to children’s well-being.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Hypothermic preservation of small bowel: a morphological scanning electron microscopy study

Introducción: El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar el efecto de soluciones cristaloides simples (solución salina y solución de Ringer Lactato) y una solución de preservación de órganos compleja (solución Celsior) sobre la la pared intestinal de ratones mediante el empleo de microscopía electrónica de barrido tras su preservación hipotérmica. Material y Métodos: Los segmentos intestinales de íleon procedentes de ratones CD1 fueron perfundidos por vía vascular e intraluminal con soluciones cristaloides simples como el suero salino (grupo 2) o solución de Ringer-Lactato (grupo 3), y con soluciones complejas como la solución Celsior (grupo 4). Los segmentos fueron almacenados durante 14 horas a 4º C con la misma solución empleada para su perfusión. Las diferentes muestras fueron procesadas utilizando protocolos convencionales para microscopia electrónica de barrido. Resultados: Nuestros resultados muestran que el grupo 2 se caracterizó por presentar un patrón vellositario y microvellositario compatible con el grupo control (grupo 1). El grupo 3 mostró lesiones focales caracterizadas por pérdidas epiteliales a nivel del vértice vellositario y exposición del eje conjuntivo-vascular de la vellosidad. Finalmente, el grupo 4 presentó un patrón vellositario desestructurado con hendiduras subepiteliales extensas, así como destrucción de células enterocíticas hasta la base. Discusión: El estudio demuestra que las soluciones cristaloides simples administradas por vía vascular e intraluminal mantienen la integridad morfológica de la mucosa intestinal tras su preservación hipotérmica. La microscopia electrónica de barrido constituye una metodología óptima en la valoración topográfica del daño tisular inducido por diferentes protocolos de preservación.Introduction: The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of simple crystalloid solutions (saline and Ringer lactate solution) and an organ preservation solution (Celsior) on murine intestinal ileal mucosa by scanning electron microscopy after hypothermic preservation. Material and Methods: The intestinal segments of ileum from CD1 mice were intravascularly and intraluminally flushed with 3 different preservation solutions. The used solutions were the simple crystalloid solution normal saline -group 2- and Lactated Ringer (LR) -group 3-. As organ preservation solution, the solution Celsior -group 4- was used. The segments were stored for 14 hours at 4 ° C with the same solution used for perfusion. The samples were processed using standard protocols for scanning electron microscopy. Results: Our results show that group 2 was characterized by villous and microvilli pattern similar to the control group (group 1). The group 3 showed focal lesions characterized by missing epithelium at the apex level and the exposure of the connective-vascular axis of the villi. Finally, group 4 presented a disrupted villous pattern with extensive subepithelial clefts as well as complete denuded villi. Discussion: This study shows that simple crystalloid solutions administered via vascular and intraluminal maintain morphological integrity of the intestinal mucosa after hypothermic preservation. In addition, scanning electron microscopy is an optimal methodology to evaluate the topographical tissue damage induced by various preservation protocols

Baseline and time-updated factors in preclinical development of anionic dendrimers as successful anti-HIV-1 vaginal microbicides

Although a wide variety of topical microbicides provide promising in vitro and in vivo efficacy, most of them failed to prevent sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in human clinical trials. In vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models must be optimized, considering the knowledge acquired from unsuccessful and successful clinical trials to improve the current gaps and the preclinical development protocols. To date, dendrimers are the only nanotool that has advanced to human clinical trials as topical microbicides to prevent HIV-1 transmission. This fact demonstrates the importance and the potential of these molecules as microbicides. Polyanionic dendrimers are highly branched nanocompounds with potent activity against HIV-1 that disturb HIV-1 entry. Herein, the most significant advancements in topical microbicide development, trying to mimic the real-life conditions as closely as possible, are discussed. This review also provides the preclinical assays that anionic dendrimers have passed as microbicides because they can improve current antiviral treatments' efficacy.This work has been (partially) funded by the RD16/0025/0019 projects as part of Acción Estratégica en Salud, Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica (2013–2016) and cofinanced by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), RETIC PT17/0015/0042, Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria (FIS) (grant no. PI16/01863) and EPIICAL project. COST CA17140 Cancer Nanomedicine-“From the Bench to Bedside.” This work has also been supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness #CGL2013-40564-R and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation grant no. 5334. This work was also funded by research grants from ISCIII (grant numbers PI20CIII/00004, and RD16CIII/0002/0002) to Salvador Resino. The study was also funded by the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CB21/13/00044). DS-C is a “Sara Borrell” researcher from ISCIII (grant no. CD20CIII/00001).S