Physical activity on cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk in premenopausal and postmenopausal women: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Importance: The apparent cardioprotective effects of endogenous estrogens to prevent cardiovascular disease in premenopausal women are reduced with the loss of estrogen post-menopause. Cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk factors are closely related to physical activity levels. Objective: This study conducted a critical assessment of studies for health prevention that analyze the effects of physical activity programs on cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk factors in women, comparing premenopausal and postmenopausal states, through a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Evidence review: A computerized literature search was performed to include articles up until December 2021 in the following online databases: PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, SportDiscus, and Web of Science. Regarding physical activity intervention, women of all ages were engaged. The PEDro scale and Oxford's evidence levels were used for the assessment of the risk of bias in the included articles. Findings: Fourteen scientific articles met the inclusion criteria. Great variability was found in physical activity variables. All the studies found an improvement in at least one variable. The risk of bias was high, with all the articles obtaining a low methodological quality, except two with high methodological quality. Only one article considered the differences in the menopausal state observing the effects of physical activity intervention and highlighting the importance of physical activity in both states. Conclusions and relevance: To strengthen the evidence for the benefits of physical activity programs in women and to observe the effects depending on their menopausal state, there is an ongoing need for more rigorous randomized controlled trials of appropriate length and dose, with individualized exercise intensity

Estudio de la influencia de las tensiones tangenciales en el endotelio mediante un sistema microfluídico de placa de ateroma

Las enfermedades cardiovasculares son la principal causa de muerte en todo el mundo. Entre ellas, la aterosclerosis es la etiología más común. La aterosclerosis consiste en el estrechamiento progresivo de un vaso sanguíneo debido a la deposición de una placa de ateroma. A pesar de la elevada incidencia de esta enfermedad, su mecanismo aún no se conoce completamente.La aterosclerosis es una patología localizada; por lo tanto, los factores sistémicos en sangre no son los únicos iniciadores de esta enfermedad. Las zonas más susceptibles de desarrollar aterosclerosis comparten patrones de flujo turbulento, debido principalmente a la presencia de bifurcaciones. Por todo esto, la biomecánica y la hemodinámica de esta patología están ganando cada vez mayor atención.A nivel celular, el flujo sanguíneo influye en el comportamiento de las células endoteliales de la pared del vaso. Estas células pueden modificar su forma y orientación, provocando una alteración en la permeabilidad de la pared. Un aumento de la permeabilidad del endotelio es el primer paso para desarrollar aterosclerosis. Por lo tanto, el estudio del efecto del flujo en la forma y orientación celular es esencial.En este trabajo, se ha desarrollado un ensayo experimental para estudiar las células endoteliales coronarias humanas (HCAECs) y su respuesta al flujo sanguíneo. En particular, el flujo se ha caracterizado mediante la tensión tangencial en la pared (WSS), tensión que experimentan las células debido al paso de la sangre. Para ello, se ha diseñado y fabricado un dispositivo microfluídico, se ha establecido el protocolo experimental y se ha desarrollado un programa de análisis de imágenes para posprocesar la información obtenida en el microscopio.Hasta ahora se han llevado a cabo dos lotes de experimentos. Se ha encontrado respuesta celular en términos de forma y orientación a los diferentes valores de WSS en todos los casos estudiados.<br /

Narcissus dubius, Narcisse Douteux

This species is endemic to southern France and eastern Spain. It is assessed as Least Concern because it has a widespread distribution, occurs in several protected areas throughout its range and its population is not expected to significantly decline in the near future. Further studies on the genetic structure of its population and trends in population size at global level are needed

Juncus fernandez-carvajaliae

This species is endemic to central Spain, where it is currently only known from two sites in the Guadiana River basin located in the western half of Ciudad Real Province. Suitable habitat is frequent around both known sites, and the potential distribution area of this new species could be much larger. However, very little data are available at present regarding its population size, trends or threats and therefore it is assessed as Data Deficient; further research is required

Diseño de un sistema de microfluídica para la simulación de la formación de la placa de ateroma

The aim of this work is to design a microfluidic device that reproduces the different conditions and parameters of blood flow that appear both in the physiological range of a coronary artery and in the pathological range, in the process of generation and development of an atheroma plaque.El objetivo de este trabajo es el diseño de un dispositivo de microfluídica que reproduzca las diferentes condiciones y parámetros del flujo sanguíneo que aparecen tanto en el rango fisiológico de una arteria coronaria como en el patológico, en el proceso de generación y desarrollo de la placa de ateroma

Leptospirosis en Corrientes, Argentina

Se realizó una investigación epidemiológica de Leptospi­rosis en 92 personas procedentes de la Ciudad de Corrien­tes, personal de Gendarmería Nacional en su mayoría y pobladores civiles minoritariamente y sin antecedentes de enfermedad. Se utilizó Test de Microaglutinación o MAT y serología antileptospiras humanas (Bio Rad). Uno de ellos resultó positivo a grippotyphosa (1 %) lo que se destaca por la baja frecuencia de su relato en Argentina.Se completó el estudio con búsqueda de leptospiras en cultivos de riñones de roedores, estudiando a 73 (100%) Rattus rattus resultando positivos 23 (31 %) de ellos.

Prevalencia de anticuerpos contra diarrea viral bovina en vacas no vacunadas en los estados de Puebla, Tabasco y Veracruz, México

The prevalence (PRE) of antibodies against bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) was determined in 421 cows from 24 herds located in 11 Municipalities of the States of Puebla, Tabasco and Veracruz, Mexico. In addition, the influence of the presence of antibodies against bovine viral diarrhea on pregnancy rate (PR) was evaluated. Before the study, the herds were never vaccinated against BVD. Blood samples were taken from each cow twice, with an interval of 3.5 to 4.0 mo. The presence of antibodies was determined with the ELISA test. At the first sampling, Puebla (51.4 %) and Tabasco (49.7 %) showed lower PRE (P0.05) to that of cows with antibodies (57.3 vs 53.5 %). In conclusion, 1) Veracruz showed higher PRE than Puebla and Tabasco; 2) All the herds had antibodies against BVD, suggesting that the BVD virus is amply distributed in the three States; 3) A great variation existed between herds and between municipalities, with PRE being close to 100 % in several cases; 4) The presence of antibodies against BVD did not influence pregnancy rate.La prevalencia (PRE) de anticuerpos contra diarrea viral bovina (DVB) se determinó en 421 vacas de 24 ranchos ubicados en 11 municipios de los estados de Puebla, Veracruz y Tabasco, México. Adicionalmente, se evaluó la influencia de anticuerpos contra DVB sobre la tasa de gestación (TG). Antes del estudio, los hatos nunca fueron vacunados contra DVB. Se obtuvieron muestras de sangre de cada vaca dos veces, con un intervalo de 3.5 a 4.0 meses. La presencia de anticuerpos se determinó mediante la técnica de ELISA. Al primer muestreo, Puebla (51.4 %) y Tabasco (49.7 %) presentaron menor PRE (P0.05) a la de las vacas con anticuerpos (57.3 vs 53.5 %). En conclusión, 1) Veracruz presentó mayor PRE que Puebla y Tabasco; 2) el 100 % de los hatos presentaron anticuerpos contra DVB, lo que sugiere que el virus de la DVB está ampliamente distribuido en los tres estados; 3) existió una gran variación en la PRE entre ranchos y entre municipios, siendo ésta cercana a 100 % en varios casos; y 4) la presencia de anticuerpos contra DVB no influyó la tasa de gestación

How Did the COVID-19 Lockdown Pandemic Affect the Depression Symptomatology in Mediterranean Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome?

Background and Aims. To control the COVID-19 spread, in March 2020, a forced home lockdown was established in Spain. In the present study, we aimed to assess the effect of mobility and social COVID-19-established restrictions on depressive symptomatology in older adults with metabolic syndrome. We hypothesize that severe restrictions might have resulted in detrimental changes in depressive symptomatology. Methods. 2,312 PREDIMED-Plus study participants (men = 53:9%; mean age = 64:9±4:8 years) who completed a COVID-19 lockdown questionnaire to assess the severity of restrictions/lockdown and the validated Spanish version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) during the three established phases concerning the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain (prelockdown, lockdown, and postlockdown) were included in this longitudinal analysis. Participants were categorized according to high or low lockdown severity. Analyses of covariance were performed to assess changes in depressive symptomatology across lockdown phases. Results. No significant differences in participant depression symptomatology changes were observed between lockdown severity categories (low/high) at the studied phases. During the lockdown phase, participants showed a decrease in BDI-II score compared to the prelockdown phase (mean (95% CI), -0.48 (-0.24, -0.72), P < 0:001); a nonsignificantly larger decrease was observed in participants allocated in the low-lockdown category (low: -0.59 (-0.95, -0.23), high: -0.43 (-0.67, -0.19)). Similar decreases in depression symptomatology were found for the physical environment dimension. The post- and prelockdown phase BDI-II scores were roughly similar. Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown was associated with a decrease in depressive symptomatology that returned to prelockdown levels after the lockdown. The degree of lockdown was not associated with depressive symptomatology. The potential preventive role of the physical environment and social interactions on mental disorders during forced home lockdown should be further studie

Adopting a High-Polyphenolic Diet Is Associated with an Improved Glucose Profile: Prospective Analysis within the PREDIMED-Plus Trial

Previous studies suggested that dietary polyphenols could reduce the incidence and complications of type-2 diabetes (T2D); although the evidence is still limited and inconsistent. This work analyzes whether changing to a diet with a higher polyphenolic content is associated with an improved glucose profile. At baseline, and at 1 year of follow-up visits, 5921 participants (mean age 65.0 ± 4.9, 48.2% women) who had overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome filled out a validated 143-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), from which polyphenol intakes were calculated. Energy-adjusted total polyphenols and subclasses were categorized in tertiles of changes. Linear mixed-effect models with random intercepts (the recruitment centers) were used to assess associations between changes in polyphenol subclasses intake and 1-year plasma glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Increments in total polyphenol intake and some classes were inversely associated with better glucose levels and HbA1c after one year of follow-up. These associations were modified when the analyses were run considering diabetes status separately. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the relationship between changes in the intake of all polyphenolic groups and T2D-related parameters in a senior population with T2D or at high-risk of developing T2

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio