Beyond the Screen, Beyond the Story: The Rhetorical Battery of Post-Classical films

This paper attempts to make a classification of some of the narrative and stylistic resources of the post-classical cinema in the age of the global screen through a minimal description of a battery of rhetorical resources present in some of the most relevant post classical films from the 90s. Specially, we focus on two main axis: the multi-screen cohabitation in the mise-en-scène and the increasing radicalization of complex narration

Unreliable Narrators for Troubled Times: The Menacing “Digitalisation of Subjectivity” in Black Mirror

This article offers an examination of the television series Black Mirror (2011-) using a theoretical framework for studying post-classical narrative complexity. Its basic proposition is that narrative fracturing and misleading points of view are used in Black Mirror to offer a critique of the excessive confidence in digital technology and social networks as regulators of human subjectivity. While a mission historically attributed to science fiction is the exploration of a particular contemporary issue by expressing it in fiction form, Black Mirror offers an innovative twist on this objective by incorporating the narrative complexity of the mind-game film through the perspective of distorted subjectivities. In nearly every episode, the conflict that arises highlights the dangers inherent to the naturalisation of technological devices that virtually become appendages of the human body. Most episodes explore the negative consequences of the unrestrained use of new technologies to control memories, regulate personal relationships or reduce all human experience to data. The absence of any debate questioning their value results in a completely alienated society that feeds on the fictionalisation of politics and private life, in which individuals are incapable of distinguishing between reality and fiction, or even between what is happening outside and inside their own minds

C-Src, ERK1/2 and Rho kinasemediate hydrogen peroxide-induced vascular contraction in hypertension: Role ofTXA2, NAD(P)H oxidase andmitochondria

AIM: : The aim of this study was to analyse the signalling pathways involved in H2O2 vascular responses in hypertension. METHODS: Vascular function, thromboxane A2 (TXA2) production, oxidative stress and protein expression were determined in mesenteric resistance arteries (MRAs) from hypertensive (spontaneously hypertensive rats, SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. RESULTS: H2O2 and the TP agonist U46619 induced greater contractile responses in MRA from SHR than WKY. Moreover, H2O2 increased TXA2 production more in SHR than in WKY. The c-Src inhibitor PP1 reduced H2O2 and U46619-induced contraction and TXA2 release in both strains. The ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 reduced H2O2 but not U46619-induced contraction only in SHR arteries. The Rho kinase inhibitor Y26372 reduced H2O2 and U46619-induced contractions only in SHR arteries. Basal c-Src, ERK1/2 and Rho kinase expression were greater in MRA from SHR than WKY. In SHR, the combination of PD98059 with the TP antagonist SQ29548 but not with Y27632 inhibited the H2O2 contraction more than each inhibitor alone. H2O2 and U46619 increased NAD(P)H oxidase activity and O2 production and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in vessels from SHR. The effects induced by H2O2 were abolished by inhibitors of TXA2 synthase, ERK1/2 and c-Src. The mitochondrial antioxidant mitoTEMPO reduced H2O2-induced contraction and NAD(P)H oxidase activation. CONCLUSION: In arteries from WKY, c-Src mediates H2O2 contractile responses by modulating TXA2 release and TXA2 effect. In SHR, H2O2 induces c-Src dependent TXA2 release that provokes vascular contractile responses through Rho kinase, c-Src and O2 from NAD(P)H Oxidase and mitochondria. Moreover, ERK1/2 activation contributes to H2O2 contraction in SHR through effects on mitochondria/NAD(P)H Oxidase

The neurobiological basis of cognitive side effects of electroconvulsive therapy : a systematic review

Altres ajuts: M.C. is founded by the Sara Borrell postdoctoral contract [CD20/00189].Decades of research have consistently demonstrated the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), but its clinical use remains somewhat restricted because of its cognitive side effects. The aim of this systematic review is to comprehensively summarize current evidence assessing potential biomarkers of ECT-related cognitive side effects. Based on our systematic search of human studies indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge, a total of 29 studies evaluating patients with MDD undergoing ECT were reviewed. Molecular biomarkers studies did not consistently identify concentration changes in plasma S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), or Aβ peptides significantly associated with cognitive performance after ECT. Importantly, these findings suggest that ECT-related cognitive side effects cannot be explained by mechanisms of neural cell damage. Notwithstanding, S-100b protein and Aβ40 peptide concentrations, as well as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) polymorphisms, have been suggested as potential predictive biomarkers of cognitive dysfunction after ECT. In addition, recent advances in brain imaging have allowed us to identify ECT-induced volumetric and functional changes in several brain structures closely related to memory performance such as the hippocampus. We provide a preliminary framework to further evaluate neurobiological cognitive vulnerability profiles of patients with MDD treated with ECT

Gene expression and microrna expression analysis in small arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Evidence for er stress

Small arteries are known to develop functional and structural alterations in hypertension. However, the mechanisms of this remodeling are not fully understood.We hypothesized that altered gene expression is associated with the development of hypertension in mesenteric arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Three sublines of SHR and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were studied at 6 weeks and 5 months of age. MiRNA and mRNA microarray experiments were performed and analyzed with bioinformatical tools, including Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). Principal component analysis showed a clear separation in both miRNA and mRNA expression levels between both ages studied, demonstrating strong age-related changes in expression. At the miRNA level, IPA identified differences between SHR and WKY related to metabolic diseases, cellular growth, and proliferation. The mRNAs differentially expressed between SHR and WKY were related to metabolism, cellular movement and proliferation. The most strongly upregulated gene (9.2- fold) was thrombospondin 4 (Thbs4), a protein involved in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response that activates transcription factor 6α (ATF6α). ATF6α downstream targets were also differentially expressed in SHR vs. WKY. Differential expression of THBS4, the cleaved form of ATF6α, and two of its targets were further confirmed at the protein level by western blot. In summary, these data revealed a number of genes (n = 202) and miRNAs (n = 3) in mesenteric arteries of SHR that had not been related to hypertension previously. The most prominent of these, Thbs4, is related to vascular ER stress that is associated with hypertensionThis work was supported by the European Union, Marie Curie ITN number 606998 and 23571

Poden els registres d'atenció primària ajudar a detectar el risc de suïcidi? : Un estudi de cas a Barcelona

El suïcidi és un greu problema de salut pública que s'ha vist incrementat en les últimes dècades, la qual cosa ha portat a la creació de diferents programes d'intervenció que tenen com a finalitat identificar i ajudar la persona afectada. En aquest article, un grup d'investigadors de l'àrea de Medicina presenta el resum d'un estudi en el qual intenten trobar a partir de registres electrònics del sistema sanitari, quins factors poden ajudar a identificar pacients amb alt risc de suïcidi. Una de les primeres conclusions és que molts d'ells queden recollits de manera rutinària en aquests registres, la qual cosa suposa un bon punt de partida per elaborar estratègies de prevenció.El suicidio es un grave problema de salud pública que se ha visto incrementado en las últimas décadas, lo que ha llevado a la creación de diferentes programas de intervención que tienen como finalidad identificar y ayudar a la persona afectada. En este artículo, un grupo de investigadores del área de Medicina presenta el resumen de un estudio que han llevado cabo para intentar encontrar a partir de registros electrónicos del sistema sanitario, qué factores pueden ayudar a identificar pacientes con alto riesgo de suicidio. Una de Llas primeras conclusiones es que muchos de ellos quedan recogidos de manera rutinaria en estos registros, lo que supone un buen punto de partida para elaborar estrategias de prevención.Suicide is a serious public health problem that has increased in recent decades, and this has led to the creation of different intervention programs that aim to identify and help the affected person. In this article, a group of medical researchers presents the summary of a study they conducted, using electronic records of the health system, to find the factors which could help to identify patients with a high risk of suicide. One of the first conclusions is that many of them are routinely collected in these registries, which is a good starting point for developing prevention strategies

Impacto de la irrigación vs. succión en la tasa de abscesos postquirúrgicos en apendicectomías laparoscópicas por apendicitis aguda complicada : Isaac trial

En la práctica actual, tanto la irrigación de la cavidad abdominal en la apendicectomía laparoscópica por apendicitis aguda complicada como la simple succión del material encontrado se realizan por igual en función del cirujano que realiza la intervención. Si bien parece que el lavado está justificado en cirugía abierta, y así lo avalan numerosas publicaciones, no encontramos en la literatura estudios que indiquen su uso en la cirugía laparoscópica. Cuanto más alto es el grado de complejidad de una apendicitis aguda, más alta es la probabilidad de formación de absceso intraabdominal en el postoperatorio. De las medidas usadas para evitar esta formación de abscesos, como puede ser la colocación de drenaje, el lavado peritoneal es el que menos ha sido estudiado. Los objetivos de este estudio son determinar si la simple succión del material purulento o fecaloideo encontrado en la cavidad abdominal en adultos con apendicitis aguda complicada es una técnica segura y comparable a la irrigación con suero fisiológico de la cavidad abdominal con respecto a la tasa de abscesos postquirúrgicos; también determinar si los abscesos que concurren en el grupo de aleatorización Irrigación se producen en otras regiones distintas a la fosa ilíaca derecha, provocando dificultad para su tratamiento y; por último, determinar si entre las variables estudiadas existe uno o varios indicadores que nos ayuden a predecir la formación de abscesos postquirúrgicos en estos pacientes. Para ello se ha realizado un ensayo clínico aleatorizado en pacientes intervenidos de apendicitis aguda complicada (definida como la apendicitis perforada antes o durante la cirugía, la apendicitis gangrenosa y / o peritonitis purulenta). Al grupo A se le practica irrigación de la cavidad abdominal con al menos 300ml de suero fisiológico y se aspira. Al grupo B se le practica la simple succión del material encontrado. Se han incluido 134 pacientes, de los cuales a 66 pertenecen al grupo A y 68 al grupo B, de similares características demográficas. Se ha hallado una tasa de abscesos del 22,4% en el grupo A vs. 21% en el grupo B (p=0,9). No se han hallado diferencias significativas en cuanto a las variables perioperatorias como el tiempo quirúrgico (p=0,097), las complicaciones postquirúrgicas (p=0,613) o la estancia hospitalaria (p=0,419) , Tampoco se encontraron diferencias significativas en cuanto a la localización de los abscesos en ambos grupos (p=0,296). Los pacientes que han desarrollado un absceso presentan más dolor postoperatorio que aquellos que no lo han desarrollado (p=0,019). Se concluye que la simple succión del material encontrado es una técnica segura y no ofrece desventajas respecto a la irrigación de la cavidad abdominal. In current practice, both the irrigation of the abdominal cavity in laparoscopic appendectomy for complicated acute appendicitis and the simple suction of the material found are carried out equally according to the surgeon performing the surgery. Although it seems that the irrigation is justified in open surgery, and this is supported by numerous publications, we do not find studies in the literature that indicate its use in laparoscopic surgery. The higher the degree of complexity of an acute appendicitis, the higher the probability of intra-abdominal abscess formation in the postoperative period. Of the measures used to prevent abscess formation, such as drainage placement, peritoneal lavage is the least studied. The aims of this study are to determine whether the simple suction of the purulent or fecaloid material found in the abdominal cavity in adults with complicated acute appendicitis is a safe technique and comparable to the irrigation with physiological serum of the abdominal cavity according to the rate of postoperative abscesses; also determine if the abscesses that concur in the Irrigation randomization group occur in regions different than the right lower quadrant, causing difficulty for their treatment; and, finally, determine if among the variables studied there is one or several indicators that help us predict the formation of postoperative abscesses in these patients. To this end, a randomized clinical trial has been conducted in patients undergoing complicated acute appendicitis (defined as perforated appendicitis before or during surgery, gangrenous appendicitis and / or purulent peritonitis). Group A undergoes irrigation of the abdominal cavity with at least 300cc of saline and aspirate. Group B is given the simple suction of the material found. 134 patients were included, of which 66 belong to group A and 68 to group B, with similar demographic characteristics. An abscess rate of 22.4% was found in group A vs. 21% in group B (p = 0.9). No significant differences were found regarding perioperative variables such as surgical time (p = 0.097), postoperative complications (p = 0.613) or hospital stay (p = 0.419). No significant differences were found in terms of location of abscesses in both groups (p = 0.296). Patients who have developed an abscess have more postoperative pain than those who have not developed it (p = 0.019). It is concluded that the simple suction of the found material is a safe technique and does not offer disadvantages regarding the irrigation of the abdominal cavity

Percepción de los riesgos biológicos en el entorno quirúrgico.

El riesgo laboral más importante y continuado al que se enfrentan los profesionales sanitarios durante el ejercicio profesional es el riesgo biológico. La normativa vigente y guías técnicas nos ayudan a saber qué son, como prevenirlos y qué hacer en caso de accidente biológico. En el presente trabajo, con la ayuda de una encuesta realizada a personal sanitario que trabaja en quirófanos, evaluamos el conocimiento que tienen estos profesionales respecto de los riesgos biológicos, evaluando la necesidad de más formación para estos profesionales

Thrombospondin-4 knockout in hypertension protects small artery endothelial function but induces aortic aneurysms.

Thrombospondin-4 (TSP-4) is a multidomain calcium-binding protein that has both intracellular and extracellular functions. As an extracellular matrix protein it is involved in remodeling processes. Previous work showed that in the cardiovascular system, TSP-4 expression is induced in the heart in response to experimental pressure overload and infarction injury. Intracellularly, it mediates the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response in the heart. In this study we explored the role of TSP-4 in hypertension. For this purpose, wild type (WT) and thrombospondin-4 knockout (Thbs4(-/-)) mice were treated with angiotensin II (Ang II). Hearts from Ang II-treated Thbs4(-/-) mice showed an exaggerated hypertrophic response. Interestingly, aortas from Thbs4(-/-) mice treated with Ang II showed a high incidence of aneurysms. In resistance arteries, Ang II-treated WT mice showed impaired endothelial dependent relaxation. This was not observed in Ang II-treated Thbs4(-/-) mice or in untreated controls. No differences were found in the passive pressure-diameter curves or stress-strain relationships, although Ang II-treated Thbs4(-/-) mice showed a tendency to be less stiff, associated with thicker diameters of the collagen fibers as revealed by electron microscopy. We conclude that TSP-4 plays a role in hypertension, affecting cardiac hypertrophy, aortic aneurysm formation, as well as endothelial dependent relaxation in resistance arteries

Perinatal correlated retinal activity is required for the wiring of visual axons in non-image forming nuclei

Resumen del trabajo presentado al 2nd Meeting on Spontaneous Activity in Brain Development (SPONT), celebrado en Altea, Alicante (españa) del 6 al 8 de junio de 2022.The formation of the visual system is a complex multistep process that includes the establishment of proper connectivity of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon terminals with their relay neurons located in the brain. In mammals, the assembly of the different components of the visual circuit occurs at perinatal stages before eye opening. Upon reaching the target nuclei RGC axons extensively arborize and subsequently refine to establish the final connections. Spontaneous activity generated in the immature retina plays an essential role in the refinement of visual terminals at the main image-forming nuclei (IFN) that follow an eye-specific and retinotopic organization. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying spontaneous activity-dependent axon remodeling, and the influence of this activity in the connectivity of non-image forming nuclei (NIFN) that lack precise retinotopic maps and/or eye-specific segregation, are not well known. Here, by generating conditional mice with disturbed spontaneous retinal activity and analyzing their retinal transcriptomic profiles, we identified novel players involved in axon refinement at the visual nuclei (e. g. Syt13). The analysis of visual projections in the NIFN of these mice revealed that correlated-retinal activity shapes final connectivity in non-retinotopic or eye-specific segregating visual nuclei.Peer reviewe