Maternal and Neonatal Hair Cortisol Levels Are Associated with Infant Neurodevelopment at Six Months of Age

Background: Maternal stress during pregnancy can affect fetal development during certain sensitive periods. Objective: To longitudinally assess maternal hair cortisol levels during pregnancy, and the postpartum along with neonatal hair cortisol levels that could be associated with infant neurodevelopment at six months of age. Methods: A sample of 41 pregnant women longitudinally assessed during the first, second, and third trimester and the postpartum, along with their 41 full-term neonates participated in this study. Hair cortisol levels were assessed from participants. Infant neurodevelopment was assessed by means of the Bayley Scale of Infants Development, Third Edition at age six months. Results: Maternal hair cortisol levels in the first and second trimester accounted for 24% and 23%, respectively, of variance of infant gross motor development (p < 0.05). Maternal hair cortisol levels during the postpartum accounted for 31% of variance of infant cognitive development (p < 0.05), and 25% of variance of infant gross motor development (p < 0.05). Neonatal hair cortisol levels accounted for 28% of variance of infant gross motor development (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The preconception and prenatal time are sensitive periods related to infant neurodevelopment along with the cortisol levels surrounding the fetus while in the womb. Pregnant women could be assessed for hair cortisol levels while attending a prenatal appointment.This work was supported by the I+D Project “PSI2015-63494-P” of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation; co-supported by funds/European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) a way to build Europe (MIPR). In addition, B.R.-G. has been awarded with an individual research grant (Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, FPI Program (research professional training Program), reference number BES-2016-077619)

El uso de la estimulación transcraneal de corriente directa (tDCS) en el tratamiento del dolor crónico: una revisión sistemática

Traballo de Fin de Grao en Psicoloxía. Modalidade 1 Traballos de revisión bibliográfica. Curso 2016-2017[ES] El dolor crónico actualmente es un problema a nivel mundial debido al gran número de personas que se ven afectadas por él. La principal problemática que afecta a los pacientes de dolor crónico es que en muchas ocasiones los tratamientos farmacológicos no son todo lo eficaces que se espera en la reducción del dolor. El objetivo de esta revisión sistemática es investigar la literatura existente sobre el tratamiento del dolor crónico mediante la estimulación transcraneal por corriente directa (tDCS) anódica o catódica para comprobar sus niveles de eficacia. Para ello, se realizó una búsqueda de bibliografía sistemática a partir de la cual se sleccionaron un total de 9 ensayos clínicos que utilizan este tratamiento en distintos tipos de dolor crónico. Tras la revisión de los artículos se observó que el tratamiento mediante tDCS anódica lleva a reducciones significativas de los niveles de dolor de los participantes, mientras que el tratamiento de tDCS catódica, si bien también ha conllevado resultados significativos, necesita ser más ampliamente estudiado. Por lo tanto, y gracias a los pocos efectos secundarios observados, se concluye que el tratamiento mediante estimulación transcraneal por corriente directa puede ser una alternativa eficaz y segura a los tratamientos farmacológicos, aunque son necesarios futuros estudios para profundizar en sus mecanismos de acción y analizar sus resultados a largo plazo.[EN] Chronic pain is nowadays a worldwide problem due to the huge amount of people that are affected by it. The main problem that affects chronic pain patients is that pharmacological treatments are not effective enough in reducing pain levels. The objective of the present systematic review is to investigate the existing literature about the use of anodal or cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation in the treatment of chronic pain to prove its efficacy levels. A total of 9 clinical trials where this treatment was used to treat different kinds of chronic pain are reviewed. After performing the review, it is shown that anodal tDCS leads to significative reductions of participants’ levels of pain, while cathodal tDCS, even though has also lead to significative reductions of pain, needs to be more studied. Therefore, and thanks to the few side effects that were observed, the conclusion of this systematic review is that tDCS can be a good and safe alternative to pharmacological treatments, although future researches are needed to deepen in its action mechanisms and long-term results

An institutional analysis of Galician turbot aquaculture: Property rights system, legal framework and resistance to institutional change

Galicia, located in the northwest of Spain, is one of the main producing regions of turbot in Europe. Although the beginnings of the sector date back to 1985, its consolidation and expansion took place in the 1990s when more than a dozen companies joined the sector. However, in recent years, the production has stagnated. Part of this phenomenon can be explained by the fact that the new granting of occupancy of the maritime-terrestrial domain and the granting of activity licences to the sector have come to a standstill. This paper analyses the institutional framework of the sector from the perspective of the New Institutional Economics (NIE), describing the role of the public administration, the formal rules, the organization of the sector and the system of property rights. Thus, the actors and the previous legal framework that led to the legal paralysis of the sector will be characterized. There were three attempts to elaborate a definitive aquaculture plan but, due to the opposition of interest groups and the political dynamics of the Galician region, were cancelled.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C2018/48Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431E2018/07Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018-099225-B-10

Market concentration in the Spanish turbot aquaculture sector: A regional analysis

This paper analyses the regional evolution of the market structure in the Spanish turbot industry, which is the leading turbot producer in Europe, using different concentration rates. The analysis is performed considering several factors that have influenced the evolution of the sector, the most important being the application of technology, business strategies and the institutional framework. The results confirm a process of concentration. Starting from an initial phase in which the sector was composed of a considerable number of small companies, this industry has evolved towards a situation in which only two large firms dominate the market.Este artículo analiza la evolución regional de la estructura del mercado en la industria española del rodaballo, la mayor productora de rodaballo en Europa, mediante el empleo de diferentes índices de concentración. El análisis se realizó teniendo en cuenta varios factores que han influido en la evolución del sector, entre los más importantes el uso de tecnología, las estrategias empresariales y el marco institucional. Los resultados confirman un proceso de concentración. Partiendo de una fase inicial en la que el sector estaba compuesto por un gran número de pequeñas empresas, esta industria ha evolucionado hacia una situación en la que tan sólo dos grandes empresas dominan el mercado.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431E2018/07Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C2018/48Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018-099225-B-I0

Production strategies, productivity changes and innovation: an analysis of European turbot aquaculture from 2009 to 2020

After more than four decades of production in the European Union, turbot (Psetta maxima) farming is a mature sector with a moderate growth trend (2.74% in 2020). Although up to seven countries started the production of this species, there are only four producing countries in 2020, with more than 90% of the production concentrated in the Iberian Peninsula. The objective of this paper is to analyse the economic performance of turbot companies in the EU between 2009 and 2020. In this way, biological, environmental, technological, political and social factors will be interrelated with the economic‐financial performance of the sector in order to reach a holistic understanding of this industry. The novelty of this paper lies in the fact that it is the first to analyse the profitability of the 22 turbot companies, aggregated by size and location, in the EU. The results show that the countries that have achieved success in the production of this species, and whose companies are still active today, are those in which several favourable circumstances converge. Among the most important factors are the location of the plants in the natural distribution area of turbot, an adequate institutional climate, and the financial and technological capacity of the companies.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C2018/48Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431E2018/07Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481B2018/095Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018-099225-B-100Universidade de Vigo/CISU

Governance in small-scale fisheries of Galicia (NW Spain): moving toward co-management?

The historical lack of fishers’ participation in decision making had led to weak fishing management and explains the meagre results achieved so far in conserving marine resources. European Commission recommends greater participation by fishers in the decision-making process so that adopted measures will better reflect local circumstances. It should be easier to introduce co-management measures in fisheries that have a tradition of cooperative behaviour among groups of fishers, as is generally the case in the small-scale fishing sector. This paper studies how small-scale Galician fishers view greater participation in the decision-making process. The results show that fishermen are clearly in favour of increased participation—through their guilds and, to a lesser extent, alongside trade unions, producer organizations, and scientists. The results show that fishers also favour moving toward co-management on such issues as participating in the establishment of regulating mechanisms, monitoring compliance with fishing rules, and demarcating areas for sport fishing.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481B2018/095Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C2018/48Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431E2018/07Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018-099225-B-10

An analysis of production factors for Galician-farmed turbot: From boom to stagnation

Aquaculture production of turbot in Galicia (Spain) has grown significantly in the last 35 years. The evolution of the sector and the variations in its production technologies are the result of the confluence of different phenomena such as horizontal integration, the arrival of foreign investment or the independence of imported inputs. This article analyses the evolution of Galician-farmed turbot sector production. Five main factors (space, technology, production, marketing and environment), and profitability are studied and analyzed. The results show that the average rate of return in the sector has increased significantly over the last years.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C2018/48Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431E2018/07Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018-099225-B-I0

Main issues and key factors for development of turbot aquaculture in Spanish regions: a social-ecological perspective

In 2018, Spain produced more than 70% of the European aquaculture turbot. Over the past three decades, several efforts have been made to cultivate turbot on the Atlantic, Cantabrian and Mediterranean coasts of Spain. However, although the Cantabrian turbot sector has been moderately successful, it has been the Atlantic region that has consolidated its hegemony over the years. The social-ecological system framework is an appropriate instrument to identify the key variables that have displayed heterogeneous behavior across regions, given their transdisciplinary, adaptive and multiscale nature. In this study, a comparative analysis is made through the first-tier categories (Resource Systems, Governance Systems and Actors) and their second-level variables, which present differences between regions. The results show that both the ecological and social systems have performed better in the Atlantic region. Its adequate environmental characteristics, together with the incentives generated by the actors of the governance system, promote interactions that build scenarios conducive to the success of the Galician turbot sector.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018-099225-B-I00Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C2018/48Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431E2018/07Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481B2018/09

Therapeutic Applications and Effects of Lupinus angustifolius (Blue Lupin) and Its Components: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Lupinus angustifolius has a unique nutrient profile among legumes and may have beneficial health effects when included in the diet. The aim of this study was to investigate the biological properties of blue lupin (Lupinus angustifolius), its chemical components, and their relevance for monitoring biological and anthropometric health markers, including triglycerides (TGs), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), BMI, weight, and glycemia, compared with control groups with other kinds of diets. PubMed,Web of Science, and Scopus databases, updated to December 2023, were searched. Out of the 194 studies identified, a total of 7 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comprising 302 participants met the eligibility criteria. The results of our study indicated that the blue lupin diet has a direct relationship with parameters such as blood glucose, weight, and LDL-C but not with TGs or BMI. In conclusion, the research described in this review clearly indicates that L. angustifolius may play an important role in the dietary prevention of hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Therefore, it would be highly advisable to increase its consumption in diets. However, further studies, ideally in humans, are required to truly establish L. angustifolius’s health-promoting properties

Beneficial effects of physical exercise on the osteo-renal Klotho-FGF-23 axis in Chronic Kidney Disease: A systematic review with meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of physical exercise in chronic kidney disease, describing its impact on the Klotho-FGF23 axis. PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases, updated to January 2023, were searched. The present study employed mean difference and a 95% confidence interval (CI) to examine the efficacy of the intervention. Heterogeneity was assessed through inconsistency statistics (I2). Out of the 299 studies identified, a total of 4 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), comprising 272 participants, met the eligibility criteria. Compared with the control group, physical exercise significantly decreased the concentrations of FGF23 (MD: -102.07 Pg/mL, 95% CI: -176.23.47, -27.91 I2= 97%, p = 0.001), and a significantly increased the concentrations of Klotho protein: (MD: 158.82 Pg/mL, 95% CI: 123.33, -194.31, I2 = 0%, p = 0.001). The results of our study indicated that the exercise has a direct relationship with Klotho-FGF23 axis. We can conclude that physical exercise in patients with CKD produces beneficial effects on the pathophysiological components related to this disease, including cardiorespiratory fitness and vascular functions. As observed, both endurance and aerobic physical exercise increase Klotho production and decrease FGF23 levels. Evidence indicates that exercise attenuates the progression of CKD, improves uremic parameters and down-regulates inflammation-related markers