Advances in the Treatment of Postsurgical Benign Colorectal Strictures

Postsurgical benign colorectal strictures occur in up to 20% of patients who undergo colon or rectal resection. Traditionally, treatment has been surgical, but recent decades have seen the growing importance of an endoscopic approach, particularly balloon dilatation, which is now considered the first-line treatment for these benign strictures. However, balloon dilatation is associated with a recurrence of the stricture in up to 25% of cases. When this arises, one can opt for surgery aimed at performing a reanastomosis; a new intestinal anastomosis may be technically complex or even impossible, which would result in the patient requiring a permanent colostomy, with its consequent negative impact on quality of life. Accordingly, different endoscopic approaches have been evaluated for strictures refractory to balloon dilatation, such as the implant of self-expanding metallic stents, biodegradable stents, or incisional therapy, with variable results in efficacy

Inherent antibacterial activity and in vitro biocompatibility of hydrophilic polymer film containing chemically anchored sulfadiazine moieties

Microbial colonisation of synthetic materials is a great concern in many fields, e.g., in implant surgery and medical devices; therefore biocompatible hydrophilic organic materials with inherent antimicrobial properties are of current research interest. In this work, we describe the preparation of antibacterial and biocompatible polymeric film based on N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (VP) and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), using ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and synthetic acrylic monomer containing sulfadiazine chemically anchored. The synthesised polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-based films were characterized by different techniques (1H and 13C NMR, ATR-FTIR, SEM, and TGA). In this study, the biophysical responses of bacteria and L929 cells towards the prepared materials as model device surfaces were evaluated. The membrane that contains the anchored sulfadiazine moiety showed excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli as well as good biocompatibility. Based on the experimental results, this material is a good candidate for medical applications as a biomaterial.Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad-Feder (MAT2014-54137-R and MAT2012-31709) and by the Consejería de Educación – Junta de Castilla y León – Feder (BU061U16

Feasibility and reliability of the functional movement screen battery in adults with intellectual disability

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGBackground: The feasibility and reliability of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) battery for predicting injury risk have been widely studied in athletic, military, public service and healthy populations. However, scant research has been carried out in people with disabilities. This study aimed at identifying the feasibility and reliability of the FMS battery when administered to adults with intellectual disability (ID). Methods: Adults from a residential and day care centre over 18 years of age, diagnosed with ID and able to follow simple instructions, were included in the study. All participants with behavioural or health problems that prevented the completion of the FMS battery were excluded. All exercises were video recorded to assure proper scoring. Three assessors (one trained and two novices) scored each of the FMS subtests performed separately from the videos. Feasibility was based on completion rates. Reliability of the composite test scores was analysed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results: A total of 30 people with ID (mean age: 35.5 ± 7.12 years; 33.3% women) completed all assessments. The battery showed to be feasible, although difficulties when performing two of the subtests were observed among those with moderate and severe ID. Mean total scores from the three assessors ranged from 7.83 to 8.90. An inverse trend was observed indicating that the higher the ID level, the lower the total FMS score. Test–retest reliability was good for the trained assessor (ICC = 0.89) and mostly moderate for both novice assessors (ICC range: 0.60 to 0.76). Moderate to good inter-rater reliability was observed (ICC range: 0.65 to 0.80). Conclusion: The FMS battery is a reliable tool that can be performed by people with ID, albeit with certain difficulties, especially in those with moderate to severe impairment. The battery does not seem to be useful for identifying people with ID at risk of suffering a sport injury. Adequately powered, well-designed studies are required to determine if the FMS battery is appropriate for identifying changes in functional performance in this population

Green, multivariate approach for obtaining a fingerprint of quality of watermelons at supermarket level using near infrared spectroscopy

Currently, one of the main demands of consumers - especially in large fruits such as watermelon - is for supermarkets to use techniques of non-invasive analysis to enable them to measure the sweetness of the fruits at the time of purchase, and thus avoid having to base the choice exclusively on external appearance. In addition, increasing interest is being shown by consumers in knowing the nutritional quality of healthy foods, such as watermelon. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to assess in situ the physicochemical and nutritional quality of half-watermelons, which is the format in which they are usually sold in supermarkets at the beginning of the season, due to their high price. A handheld, new-generation spectrophotometer was used for this purpose, and two modes of analysis, static and dynamic, were studied. The results obtained show the viability of using NIRS technology in dynamic mode at the supermarket level to obtain a reliable measurement of the sweetness of the half-fruits, thus meeting the consumers’ demand for sweet-tasting fruits. Promising results were also obtained for measuring the antioxidant activity of the half-watermelons, thus paving the way for the nutritional labelling of this healthy food at the supermarket level

Dating the northern deposits of the Ebro foreland basin; implications for the kinematics of the SW Pyrenean front

Dating the sedimentary infill of the northern margin of the Ebro foreland basin informs about the orogen-basin evolution. A magnetostratigraphic section of ~5 km-thick combines new magnetostratigraphic results from the syntectonic alluvial ncastillo Fm (Upper Oligocene-Lower Miocene, 1 km-thick, the Fuencalderas section) with previous (3.3 km-thick) and new (0.7 km thick) magnetostratigraphic data from the underlying fluvial Campodarbe Fm (Luesia and San Marzal sections, Eocene-Oligocene). This composite section allows dating the entire basin infill in this sector, therefore bracketing the timing of the deformation in the southern margin of the Pyrenees after considering previous kinematic studies. Deformation recorded by the continental deposits spans from syn-Gavarnie nappe activity (Broto and Fiscal basement thrust sheets) from 31.3 to 24.55 Ma, Rupelian-Chattian (Oligocene) to the syn-Guarga thrust activity, from 24.55 to 21.2 Ma Chattian-Aquitanian (Oligocene-Miocene). The Accumulation rates vary from ca. 22 to ca. 39 cm/kyr between the genetic stratigraphic units in the Uncastillo Fm through the section. These rates are close to those of the underlying deposits of the Campodarbe Fm (average of ca. 36 cm/kyr). Deformation for the latest Pyrenean front (syn-Guarga thrust) is younger than previously assigned in ~ 5.4. ~1.5 and ~1.1 Myr of the beginning of the Punta Común thrust sheet (from 29.4 Ma to 24 Ma), Lower Riglos thrust sheet system (from 24 to 22.5 Ma) and the Upper Riglos thrust system (22.5 to 21.4 Ma) respectively. Other significant changes in accumulation rate and its derivative also indicate variations in the tectonic activity ca. 33 and 28 Ma. Tilt variations in the Uncastillo Fm also record the tectonic activity with 40º variations of the Punta Común thrust sheet at ca. 20º with the Upper Riglos thrust sheet

Caracterização clínica e epidemiológica de pacientes confirmados com COVID-19

Introduction: COVID-19 constitutes an emergency for public health due to the high morbidity and mortality that it causes in human beings, a significant economic and psychosocial repercussions.Objective: to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients confirmed with COVID-19, belonging to the health area of the Jimmy Hirzel polyclinic in Bayamo, Granma province, Cuba, during the period January-April 2021.Methods: descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional epidemiological study, which included 701 patients confirmed with COVID-19, from the health area of the Jimmy Hirzel polyclinic in Bayamo, Granma province, during January-April 2021. The variables were studied: age, sex, area of residence, source of infection, symptoms and comorbidities. The data were obtained from the COVID-19 epidemiological surveys, and descriptive statistics were used for their analysis.Results: in the January-April 2021 quarter, 701 cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in the area of the Jimmy Hirzel polyclinic. Patients from the age group 40 to 59 years (38%), female (52.8%), and those from urban areas predominated. 99.1% had the native source of infection, 69.5% presented symptoms of the disease, with greater respiratory symptoms and fever; 47.3% had comorbidities, highlighting arterial hypertension. No patient died.Conclusions: in the investigated health area, female patients with COVID-19 predominated, from urban areas, with an autochthonous source of transmission, symptomatic and without comorbidities. There were no deaths.Introducción: la COVID-19 constituye una emergencia para la salud pública debido a la elevada morbilidad y mortalidad que provoca en los seres humanos, unido a significativas repercusiones económicas y psicosociales.Objetivo: determinar las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de pacientes confirmados con COVID-19, pertenecientes al área de salud del policlínico Jimmy Hirzel de Bayamo, provincia Granma, Cuba, durante el periodo enero-abril 2021.Métodos: estudio epidemiológico descriptivo, retrospectivo y transversal, que incluyó a 701 pacientes confirmados con COVID-19, del área de salud del policlínico Jimmy Hirzel de Bayamo, provincia Granma, durante enero-abril de 2021. Se estudiaron las variables: edad, sexo, zona de residencia, fuente de infección, sintomatología y comorbilidades. Los datos se obtuvieron de las encuestas epidemiológicas COVID-19, y para su análisis se empleó la estadística descriptiva.Resultados: en el cuatrimestre enero-abril de 2021, se diagnosticaron 701 casos de COVID-19 en el área del policlínico Jimmy Hirzel. Predominaron los pacientes del grupo de edad de 40 a 59 años (38%), del sexo femenino (52.8%), y los procedentes de zonas urbanas. El 99.1% tuvo como fuente de infección la autóctona, el 69.5% presentó sintomatología de la enfermedad, con mayor clínica respiratoria y fiebre; el 47.3% presentaba comorbilidades, destacando la Hipertensión arterial. Ningún paciente falleció.Conclusiones: en el área de salud investigada predominaron los enfermos con COVID-19 adultos, del sexo femenino, procedentes de zonas urbanas, con fuente de trasmisión autóctona, sintomáticos y sin comorbilidades. No se registraron fallecimientos.Introdução: A COVID-19 constitui uma emergência para a saúde pública devido à elevada morbilidade e mortalidade que causa no ser humano, aliada a significativas repercussões económicas e psicossociais. Objetivo: determinar as características clínicas e epidemiológicas dos pacientes confirmados com COVID-19, pertencentes à área de saúde da policlínica Jimmy Hirzel em Bayamo, província de Granma, Cuba, no período de janeiro a abril de 2021. Métodos: estudo epidemiológico descritivo, retrospectivo e transversal, que incluiu 701 pacientes confirmados com COVID-19, da área de saúde da policlínica Jimmy Hirzel em Bayamo, província de Granma, no período de janeiro a abril de 2021. As variáveis estudadas foram: idade, sexo, área de residência, fonte de infecção, sintomas e comorbidades. Os dados foram obtidos nos inquéritos epidemiológicos COVID-19, e para sua análise foi utilizada estatística descritiva. Resultados: no trimestre de janeiro a abril de 2021, 701 casos de COVID-19 foram diagnosticados na área da policlínica Jimmy Hirzel. Predominaram pacientes da faixa etária de 40 a 59 anos (38%), do sexo feminino (52,8%) e da zona urbana. 99,1% tinham a fonte nativa da infecção, 69,5% apresentavam sintomas da doença, com maior quadro respiratório e febre; 47,3% apresentavam comorbidades, com destaque para a hipertensão arterial. Nenhum paciente morreu. Conclusões: na área da saúde investigada predominaram pacientes com COVID-19 adultos, do sexo feminino, procedentes de áreas urbanas, com fonte de transmissão autóctone, sintomáticos e sem comorbidades. Não houve mortes. Palavras-chave

Variation in Assignment of the COPD Patients into a GOLD Group According to Symptoms Severity.

Introduction: The Global Organization of Lung Disease (GOLD) classifies patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) taking into account the symptoms. The modified Medical Research Council’s dyspnea scale (mMRC) and the COPD assessment test (CAT) are used to assess these symptoms. In this study, we analyze the concordance of GOLD classification using mMRC and CAT. Patients and Methods: This is an observational study of a cohort of 169 patients with COPD, who were classified following the GOLD 2017 recommendations, using both mMRC and CAT. A concordance analysis was applied, and a ROC curve was generated to identify the CAT score that best concorded with the mMRC scale. Results: The concordance for the GOLD groups classified by CAT and mMRC was moderate (kappa 0.492). For mMRC score of 1 and 2, a CAT score of ≥9 and ≥16 showed the maximum value of the Youden index, respectively. By reclassifying the patients with the new cut-off points obtained, the best concordance was obtained between the cut-off point for CAT of 16 and for mMRC of 2, followed by CAT of 9 and mMRC of 1. Conclusion: Because of the deficient concordance between CAT and mMRC, we propose the use of new cut-off points in future updates of the GOLD strategy.post-print2909 K

How to measure student's performance in PBL?

[EN] In this paper, we present an analysis of metrics for teamwork efficiency in University degrees, by considering Project Based Learning as a teaching methodology. We defined indicators to evaluate the ability to prioritize tasks, the group communication and the produced value. Such parameters were designed to provide objective information about teamwork efficiency. To test the effectiveness of the proposed indicators, an experiment based on a classic team-building game was performed in the context of the Interactive Technologies Degree at Universitat Politècnica de València. Students were divided into two groups (one from the first course and another the fourth course) and were asked to solve a problem in a limited amount of time. Our hypothesis was that the group corresponding to the fourth course would achieve higher teamwork efficiency because of their experience with the Project Based Learning methodology. After measuring the proposed indicators and other state-of-the-art parameters, we assessed the evolution and improvement of teamwork efficiency by comparing the results of both sets of metrics. Finally, we concluded that the presented metrics can be useful for teamwork efficiency evaluation, but also for students to manage their work.This work has been partially financed by UPV-Innovation Project PIME-I 1776 (2022-2024).Pérez Pascual, MA.; Alberola Oltra, JM.; Marín-Roig Ramón, J.; Toledo Alarcón, JF.; Palacio Samitier, D.; Giménez López, JL.; Heras, S.... (2023). How to measure student's performance in PBL?. IATED. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.21125/inted.2023.08461

Neurexin and neuroligin genes in Alzheimer's disease

Póster presentado en la 11th International Conference on Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases, celebrada en Florencia del 6 al 10 de marzo de 2013.-- Alzheimers Disease Neuroimaging Inititive[Objectives] The interaction between neurexins and neuroligins promotes the formation of functional synaptic structures. Recently, it has been reported that neurexins and neuroligins are proteolytically processed by presenilins at synapses. Based on this interaction and the role of presenilins in familial Alzheimer's disease (AD), we hypothesized that dysfunction of the neuroligin-neurexin pathway might be associated with AD.[Methods] To explore this hypothesis we carried out a meta-analysis of five genome-wide association studies (GWAS) comprising 1256 SNPs in the NRXN1, NRXN2, NRXN3 and NLGN1 genes (3009 cases and 3006 control individuals) using PLINK software.[Results] We identified a marker in the NRXN3 gene (rs17757879) that showed a consistent protective effect in all GWAS, however the statistical significance obtained did not resist multiple testing corrections (OR=0.851, p=0.002). Nonetheless, gender analysis revealed that this effect was restricted to males. A replication study with SNP rs17757879 in a Spanish population (1785 cases and 1634 controls) confirmed this observation (OR=0.752, C.I.=0.570-0.991, p=0.042).[Conclusions] We conclude that NRXN3 might have a role in susceptibility to AD in males (rs17757879, OR=0.742, 95% C.I.=0.632-0.872, p=0.00028, final meta-analysis).Peer Reviewe