206 research outputs found

    ¿Son los alumnos capaces de atribuir a los microorganismos algunas transformaciones de los alimentos?

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    In this paper we investigate if primary school students are able to relate microorganisms with food transformations. The subjects of this study were 343 4th. and 7th. grade children from Lugo (Spain) and the instrument used consisted of four multiple choice questions. The results shed light on the difficulties students have at these levels when they try to apply their ideas to interpret biological phenomena. Finally, we discuss some implications for Science teaching and learning

    Evaluating the impact of extreme temperature based indices in the 2003 heatwave excessive mortality in Portugal

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    This paper analyses the impact of the 2003 European heatwave on excessive human mortality in Portugal, a country that presents a relatively high level of exposure to heatwave events. A total of 2399 excessive deaths are estimated in continental Portugal, which implies an increase of 58% over the expected deaths. When these values are split by gender, it is seen that women increase (79%), was considerably higher than that recorded for men (41%). The increment of mortality due to this heatwave was detected for all the 18 districts of the country, but its magnitude was significantly higher in the inner districts close to the Spanish border. When we split by gender all districts reveal significant mortality increments for women, while the impact in men’s excess deaths is not significant over 3 districts. Several temperature derived indices were used and evaluated in their capacity to explain, at the regional level, the excessive mortality (ratio between observed and expected deaths) by gender. It is shown that the best relationship is found for the total exceedance of extreme days, an index combining the length of the heatwave and its intensity. Both variables hold a linear relationship with r = 0.79 for women and a poorer adjustment (r = 0.50) for men. Additionally, availability of mortality data split by age also allowed obtaining detailed information on the structure of the population in risk, namely by showing that statistically significant increments are concentrated in the last three age classes (45–64, 65–74 and 75 or more). The use of air conditioning systems in some Portuguese hospitals had a major impact on the decrease (up to 40%) in excessive mortality values. A finer approach is relevant for prevention strategies, since it allows to identify better the target population of any preventive strategy regional and national authorities may be interested to implement

    Strengthening Europe's Capability in Biological Ocean Observations

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    This publication is primarily aimed at stakeholders involved in ocean observing, spanning diverse roles from commissioning, managing, funding and coordinating, to developing, implementing, or advising on, ocean observation programmes. Such programmes will have strategic and policy drivers but their main purpose may vary from predominantly researchdriven scientific purposes to environmental monitoring for providing data and reporting to legally-binding regulations or directives. The main focus is on European capabilities but set in a global context with the various actors spanning a variety of geographical scales from national to regional and European. Key stakeholder organizations include environmental or other agencies; marine research institutions, their researchers and operators; international and regional ocean observing initiatives and programmes; national, regional and European policy makers and their advisors; national stations for observations; etc.). It will also be of interest to the wider marine and maritime research and policy community. The main aim of the publication is to increase the relevance of current (and future) European biological ocean observation capacity to strengthen global efforts towards our understanding of the ocean and enhance marine biodiversity conservation, for maintaining a healthy ocean for healthy societies. This document explains why biological ocean observations are needed to assess progress against national and international conservation targets, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Blue Growth agenda and to contribute to key EU directives including the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). To achieve this, the publication highlights the need of biological ocean observations to reflect clearly defined hypotheses about potential causes of change, including the combined impacts of local and global drivers, and to support the management of our impacts on the ocean. Additionally, it calls for flexible biological ocean observing programmes to capture the relevant drivers operating at multiple spatial scales, by networking and integration of ongoing monitoring programmes, methodological standardization and appropriate policies of data integration and dissemination. It then presents key variables, elements and information products to inform on the status and trends of marine biodiversity

    Oncological translational research in the Spanish national health system: the INTRO study

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    Under the auspices of the Foundation for Excellence and Quality in Oncology (ECO), the Translational Research in Oncology Medical Services Study (INTRO) was conducted with the aim of describing the current state of, and future expectations for translational cancer research in Spanish medical centres. The first step in the investigation was intended to analyse the current condition of the national Medical Oncology Services network by examining different aspects of the oncology research field. A descriptive and observational multicentre study was performed at a statewide level; information was collected by surveying a cross-section of all those responsible for Medical Oncology Services in Spain. The survey was completed by key informants, who were selected independently by each service, between September 2010 and April 2011. We were able to gather comprehensive data from a total of 27 Spanish hospitals. These data enabled us to describe the allocation of human and material resources devoted to clinical and translational research across the Medical Oncology Services and to describe the organisational and functional components of these services and units. These data included information pertaining to the activities developed, their funding sources, and their functional dependence on other internal or external bodies. Finally, we explored the degree of dissemination and use of some specific techniques used for the genetic diagnosis of cancer, which have recently been introduced in Medical Oncology within the Spanish healthcare system. A wide range of variability exists between different oncology services in Spanish hospitals. Time should be spent reflecting on the need and opportunities for improvement in the development of translational research within the field of oncology.Caballero, C.; Jantus-Lewintre, E.; Carrato, A.; García Foncillas, J.; Gascon, P.; Blasco, A.; Moreno Nogueira, JA.... (2014). Oncological translational research in the Spanish national health system: the INTRO study. Clinical and Translational Oncology. 16(8):686-695. doi:10.1007/s12094-013-1138-6S686695168Díaz-Rubio E. Translational research in clinical oncology: challenges and opportunities. Farm Hosp. 2010;34(Supl.1):1–7.Marincola FM. Translational medicine: a two-way road. J Transl Med. 2003;1(1):1.Ablin RJ, Marincola FM, Natali PG. The “excellence in translational medicine” and “bedside-to-bench” awards 2008–09. J Transl Med. 2010;13(8):95.García-Sáenz JA, Bueno C, SanPedro T, Díaz-Rubio E. La nueva oncología médica: aportación de la biología molecular al diagnóstico y tratamiento del cáncer. In: Díaz-Rubio E, editor. Tomo IV. Madrid: You and Us; 2006. p. 1–24.ORDEN SCO/709/2002, Boletín Oficial del Estado, 3 de abril de 2003, núm. 80, pp. 12742–12746. http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2002/04/03/pdfs/A12742-12746.pdf . Accessed 30 sept 2013.Soto-Martínez JL, Baselga-Torres J, Carrato-Mena A. La investigación Translacional en Oncología Médica. En Primer Libro blanco de la Oncología Médica en España. Dosier 2006. Madrid: Editorial Dispublic SL; 2007. p. 177–99.Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo. Agencia de Calidad del Sistema Nacional de Salud. Estrategia en Cáncer del Sistema Nacional de Salud. 2006. http://www.msc.es/organizacion/ sns/planCalidadSNS/docs/estratCancerSNS.pdf. Accessed 30 sept 2013.Lenfant C. Shattuck lecture–clinical research to clinical practice-lost in translation? N Engl J Med. 2003;349(9):868–74.Laurence J. Translating translational research. Transl Res. 2006;148(1):1–3.Lemieux-Charles L, McGuire WL. What do we know about health care team effectiveness? A review of the literature. Med Care Res Rev. 2006;63(3):263–300.Oandasan I, Baker RG, Barker K, Bosco C, D’Amour D, Jones L, et al. Teamwork in health care: promoting effective teamwork in healthcare in Canada; policy synthesis and recommendations. June 2006. http://www.chsrf.ca/Migrated/PDF/teamwork-synthesis-report_e.pdf . Accessed 30 Sep 2013.Mankoff SP, Brander C, Ferrone S, Marincola FM. Lost in Translation: obstacles to translational medicine. J Transl Med. 2004;2(1):14.Curran T. Lost in translation: the future of cancer research? Clin Cancer Res. 2005;11(13):4644.Valladares Y. Memoria y actas del primer congreso de investigación sobre el cáncer en España. Madrid; 1983.Vicente J. Apuntes para una historia de la Oncología en España. Los orígenes. Oncología. 2000;23(7):310–7.Legido-Quigley H, Otero L, la Parra D, Alvarez-Dardet C, Martin-Moreno JM, McKee M. Will austerity cuts dismantle the Spanish healthcare system? BMJ. 2013;13(346):f2363

    Phosphoproteomic Analysis of Platelets in Severe Obesity Uncovers Platelet Reactivity and Signaling Pathways Alterations

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    OBJECTIVE: Obesity is associated with a proinflammatory and prothrombotic state that supports atherosclerosis progression. The goal of this study was to gain insights into the phosphorylation events related to platelet reactivity in obesity and identify platelet biomarkers and altered activation pathways in this clinical condition. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We performed a comparative phosphoproteomic analysis of resting platelets from obese patients and their age- A nd gender-matched lean controls. The phosphoproteomic data were validated by mechanistic, functional, and biochemical assays. We identified 220 differentially regulated phosphopeptides, from at least 175 proteins; interestingly, all were up-regulated in obesity. Most of the altered phosphoproteins are involved in SFKs (Src-family kinases)-related signaling pathways, cytoskeleton reorganization, and vesicle transport, some of them validated by targeted mass spectrometry. To confirm platelet dysfunction, flow cytometry assays were performed in whole blood indicating higher surface levels of GP (glycoprotein) VI and CLEC (C-type lectin-like receptor) 2 in platelets from obese patients correlating positively with body mass index. Receiver operator characteristics curves analysis suggested a much higher sensitivity for GPVI to discriminate between obese and lean individuals. Indeed, we also found that obese platelets displayed more adhesion to collagen-coated plates. In line with the above data, soluble GPVI levels-indicative of higher GPVI signaling activation-were almost double in plasma from obese patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide novel information on platelet phosphorylation changes related to obesity, revealing the impact of this chronic pathology on platelet reactivity and pointing towards the main signaling pathways dysregulatedThis work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grants No. SAF2016-79662-R, and PID2019-108727RB-I00), co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Financial support from the Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia (Centro Singular de investigación de Galicia accreditation 2019–2022, ED431G 2019/02; predoctoral grant 2018 Call) and the ERDF is also gratefully acknowledged. E.E. Gardiner and R.K. Andrews are supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. The Proteomics Laboratory CSIC/UAB (Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona) is a member of Proteored, PRB3-ISCIII (Instituto de Salud Carlos III), and is supported by Grant PT17/0019/0008, funded by ISCIII and ERDF. L.A. Morán is supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 766118. S.P. Watson is supported by a BHF (British Heart Foundation) Chair (CH03/003)

    The CD14 (−159 C/T) SNP is associated with sCD14 levels and allergic asthma, but not with CD14 expression on monocytes

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    LPS-ligation to CD14/TLR-4 on monocytes/macrophages triggers the production of IL-12-family cytokines. IL12/18 promote TH1-differentiation, counteracting the TH2-driven asthma. Therefore, CD14 modulation could alter the TH2-differentiation and should be taken into account when studying asthma. To analyse the alteration in CD14 levels and its association with CD14 (−159 C/T) SNP (rs2569190) in Caucasian adults with stable allergic asthma, we performed a cross-sectional study (277 healthy subjects vs. 277 patients) where clinical parameters, CD14 values and the CD14 (−159 C/T) SNP were studied. Apart from typical biomarkers, we found an increment of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in allergic asthma, probably linked to monocyte activity. Indeed, we evidenced increased monocyte numbers, but lower CD14 expression and normalised sCD14 values in patients. Moreover, we noticed an association of the T allele (P = 0.0162) and TT genotype (P = 0.0196) of the CD14 SNP with a decreased risk of allergic asthma and augmented sCD14 levels. In conclusion, monocyte CD14 expression and normalized sCD14 values were reduced in stable state asthmatics, and this could be related to the presence of an expanded CD14low monocyte subset. This study also demonstrates that the CD14 (−159 C/T) polymorphism is a risk factor for moderate-severe allergic asthma in adult CaucasiansThis study was funded by grants from Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica, (SEPAR) (121/2012) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, FIS; co-financed by European Union ERDF funds) (PI13/02046). JJNF is a recipient of a Xunta de Galicia Fellowship (Co-financed by European Social Fund (ESF))S

    Revisión bibliográfica de implantología bucofacial del año 2011. Segunda parte

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    La gran diversidad de fuentes de información que nos proporciona la literatura científica junto al escaso tiempo de que disponen los profesionales de la Odontología para consultarlas, ha motivado a los autores a efectuar una revisión de la literatura científica publicada a lo largo del año 2011 en el campo de la Implantología Bucofacial. Con este fin se han agrupado los diferentes artículos indexados consultados en distintos apartados (elevación del seno maxilar, cirugía guiada y cirugía mínimamente invasiva, regeneración ósea guiada, implantes ci-gomáticos y factores de crecimiento), con el fin de facilitar una buena puesta al día

    Strengthening Europe’s capability in biological ocean observations

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    This publication is primarily aimed at stakeholders involved in ocean observing, spanning diverse roles from commissioning, managing, funding and coordinating, to developing, implementing, or advising on, ocean observation programmes. Such programmes will have strategic and policy drivers but their main purpose may vary from predominantly researchdriven scientific purposes to environmental monitoring for providing data and reporting to legally-binding regulations or directives. The main focus is on European capabilities but set in a global context with the various actors spanning a variety of geographical scales from national to regional and European. Key stakeholder organizations include environmental or other agencies; marine research institutions, their researchers and operators; international and regional ocean observing initiatives and programmes; national, regional and European policy makers and their advisors; national stations for observations; etc.). It will also be of interest to the wider marine and maritime research and policy community. The main aim of the publication is to increase the relevance of current (and future) European biological ocean observation capacity to strengthen global efforts towards our understanding of the ocean and enhance marine biodiversity conservation, for maintaining a healthy ocean for healthy societies. This document explains why biological ocean observations are needed to assess progress against national and international conservation targets, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Blue Growth agenda and to contribute to key EU directives including the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). To achieve this, the publication highlights the need of biological ocean observations to reflect clearly defined hypotheses about potential causes of change, including the combined impacts of local and global drivers, and to support the management of our impacts on the ocean. Additionally, it calls for flexible biological ocean observing programmes to capture the relevant drivers operating at multiple spatial scales, by networking and integration of ongoing monitoring programmes, methodological standardization and appropriate policies of data integration and dissemination. It then presents key variables, elements and information products to inform on the status and trends of marine biodiversity. The Future Science Brief finishes by recommending priorities for enhancing relevant and integrated current biological ocean observing capacity in Europe
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