Urine Phenylacetylglutamine Determination in Patients with Hyperphenylalaninemia

Phenylketonuria (PKU), an autosomal-recessive inborn error of phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism is the most prevalent disorder of amino acid metabolism. Currently, clinical follow-up relies on frequent monitoring of Phe levels in blood. We hypothesize that the urine level of phenylacetylglutamine (PAG), a phenyl-group marker, could be used as a non-invasive biomarker. In this cross-sectional study, a validated liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method was used for urinary PAG quantification in 35 participants with hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) and 33 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. We have found that (a) PKU patients present higher urine PAG levels than healthy control subjects, and that (b) there is a significant correlation between urine PAG and circulating Phe levels in patients with HPA. In addition, we show a significant strong correlation between Phe levels from venous blood samples and from capillary finger-prick dried blood spot (DBS) samples collected at the same time in patients with HPA. Further research in order to assess the potential role of urine PAG as a non-invasive biomarker in PKU is warranted.Funding: J.d.l.H. acknowledges the Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute contract for Intensification of Research Activities. This work was partially funded by the Basque Department of Education (IT1281-19). The chemical analysis and the preparation of the manuscript were partially financed by Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute and Carlos III Health Research Institutes. Acknowledgments: The authors thank the patients with hyperphenylalaninemia and healthy volunteers for their kind participation. We thank the Association for those affected by phenylketonuria of the Basque Country (Euskadi PKU-OTM Elkartea) for their collaboration. J.d.l.H., L.C., N.L.-O., G.F., A.A. and M.U. are members of the European Reference Network for Rare Hereditary Metabolic Disorders (MetabERN)—Project ID No. 739543

Revisiting the difference between instrumental and terminal values to predict (stimulating) prosocial behaviours: The transcendental-change profile

Past research suggests that the connection between values and people's behaviour may not be as straightforward and robust as has been claimed. We propose that a more holistic and discriminative view that acknowledges the influence of a specific combination of values on specific kinds of behaviour is needed. In the current project, we test two hypotheses regarding the transcendental-change profile (TCP). First, that TCP is characterized by a combination of the readiness to engage in those challenges (instrumental) that can make the world a better place (terminal). Second, the centrality of the TCP facilitates performance of those prosocial actions that are perceived as stimulating and global. The results of five studies support the reliability and validity of this conceptualization of TCP (Studies 1 and 2), and show that when the prosocial initiative is perceived as either global (Study 3) or stimulating (Studies 4 and 5), the TCP is the strongest predictor of the willingness and commitment to engage in such prosocial action.Fil: Oceja, Luis. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Stocks, Eric. University of Texas; Estados UnidosFil: Heerdink, Marc. University of Amsterdam; Países BajosFil: Villar, Sergio. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Salgado, Sergio. Universidad de La Frontera; ChileFil: Carrera, Pilar. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Arribas, María. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Bargsted, Mariana. Universidad Adolfo Ibañez; ChileFil: Beramendi, Maite Regina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Caballero, Amparo. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Espinosa, Agustín. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Perú; PerúFil: Escanés, Gabriel Adrián. Universidad Empresarial Siglo XXI; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lima, Luisa. Instituto Universitario de Lisboa; PortugalFil: Muñoz, Dolores. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Nájera, Pablo. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Pereira, Sabina. Instituto Universitario de Lisboa; PortugalFil: Villegas, Marisol. Universidad Central de Venezuela; VenezuelaFil: Zubieta, Elena Mercedes. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Escuela multicultural : un centro de todos

A través de este Programa se pretende compensar las desigualdades en educación derivadas de factores culturales, económicos o sociales, en relación con alumnos pertenecientes a minorías étnicas y de otras nacionalidades. Esto se lleva a cabo: 1.- Promoviendo la adoptación de medidas que favorezcan la acogida en el Centro de alumnos provenientes de otras culturas, razas y paises. 2.- Facilitando los medios necesarios para la atención preferente de alumnos de familias inmigrantes, principalmente encaminados a la enseñanza de la lengua castellana y/o a la compensación de situaciones de desfase escolar. 3.- Respetando las tradiciones, religiones, usos, y costumbres de los alumnos de minorías étnicas o nacionales, tendiendo hacia una educación tolerante, no exclusivista. 4.- Potenciando las actitudes de tolerancia, respeto y comunicación mutuos, solidaridad y aprecio de otras culturas o razas entre todos los alumnos del Centro, independientemente de su origen nacional, cultural, étnico o lingüístico, como medio de prevenir y resolver los problemas de discriminación, xenofobia y racismo. El contenido y las actividades de este Programa se pueden concretar en los siguientes puntos: 1.- Acogida de alumnos provenientes de otras culturas o países. 2.- Atención compensadora de alumnos. 3.- Realización de un plan de fomento de las actitudes de tolerancia, erspeto y apertura dirigido a todos los alumnos del centro. 4.- Coordinación con otros servicios socioeducativos..Gobierno de Cantabria. Consejería de Educación y JuventudCantabriaES

Risk factors for severe complications of colonoscopy in screening programs

Severe complications (SC) in colonoscopy represent the most important adverse effect of colorectal cancer screening programs (CRCSP). The objective is to evaluate the risk factors for SC in colonoscopy indicated after a positive fecal occult blood test in population-based CRCSP. The SC (n = 161) identified from 48,730 diagnostic colonoscopies performed in a cohort of all the women and men invited from 2000 to 2012 in 6 CRCSP in Spain. A total of 318 controls were selected, matched for age, sex and period when the colonoscopy was performed. Conditional logistic regression models were estimated. The analysis was performed separately in groups: immediate-SC (same day of the colonoscopy); late-SC (between 1 and 30 days after); perforation; and bleeding events. SC occurred in 3.30‰ of colonoscopies. Prior colon disease showed a higher risk of SC (OR = 4.87). Regular antiplatelet treatment conferred a higher risk of overall SC (OR = 2.80) and late-SC (OR = 9.26), as did regular anticoagulant therapy (OR = 3.47, OR = 7.36). A history of pelvic-surgery or abdominal-radiotherapy was a risk factor for overall SC (OR = 5.03), immediate-SC (OR = 8.49), late-SC (OR = 4.65) and perforation (OR = 21.59). A finding of adenoma or cancer also showed a higher risk of overall SC (OR = 8.71), immediate-SC (OR = 12.67), late-SC (OR = 4.08), perforation (OR = 4.69) and bleeding (OR = 17.02). The risk of SC doesn't vary depending on the type of preparation or type of anesthesia. Knowing the clinical history of patients such as regular previous medication and history of surgery or radiotherapy, as well as the severity of the findings during the colonoscopy process could help to focus prevention measures in order to minimize SC in CRCSP.This Project was funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III with co-funding from FEDER [PI12/00944]

Revisiting the difference between instrumental and terminal values to predict (stimulating) prosocial behaviours: The transcendental‐change profile

Past research suggests that the connection between values and people's behaviour may not be as straightforward and robust as has been claimed. We propose that a more holistic and discriminative view that acknowledges the influence of a specific combination of values on specific kinds of behaviour is needed. In the current project, we test two hypotheses regarding the transcendental-change profile (TCP). First, that TCP is characterized by a combination of the readiness to engage in those challenges (instrumental) that can make the world a better place (terminal). Second, the centrality of the TCP facilitates performance of those prosocial actions that are perceived as stimulating and global. The results of five studies support the reliability and validity of this conceptualization of TCP (Studies 1 and 2), and show that when the prosocial initiative is perceived as either global (Study 3) or stimulating (Studies 4 and 5), the TCP is the strongest predictor of the willingness and commitment to engage in such prosocial action.Fil: Oceja, Luis. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Stocks, Eric. University of Texas; Estados UnidosFil: Heerdink, Marc. University of Amsterdam; Países BajosFil: Villar, Sergio. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Salgado, Sergio. Universidad de La Frontera; ChileFil: Carrera, Pilar. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Arribas, María. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Bargsted, Mariana. Universidad Adolfo Ibañez; ChileFil: Beramendi, Maite Regina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Caballero, Amparo. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Espinosa, Agustín. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Perú; PerúFil: Escanés, Gabriel Adrián. Universidad Empresarial Siglo XXI; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lima, Luisa. Instituto Universitario de Lisboa; PortugalFil: Muñoz, Dolores. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Nájera, Pablo. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Pereira, Sabina. Instituto Universitario de Lisboa; PortugalFil: Villegas, Marisol. Universidad Central de Venezuela; VenezuelaFil: Zubieta, Elena Mercedes. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin