Effect of an α-Tocopherol-Containing Antioxidant Parenteral Emulsion upon Gut Microbiota in Preterm Infants

Preterm babies are born with an immature intestine and are at higher risk for intestinal failure and needing for parenteral nutrition than full-term newborns. These babies show an altered intestinal microbiota, which may results of key importance for later health. However, there is a lack of information on effect of parenteral formulas upon the establishing infant microbiota. Moreover, the microbiota alterations present in preterm newborns have been related with an altered redox-potential which hinders the establishment of strict anaerobes. Thus, interventions aimed at reducing the oxidative stress in these infants, including those under parenteral nutrition, could also affect the intestinal microbiota composition. We assessed the effect upon the gut microbiota of the administration during 30 days of a lipid emulsion, containing ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and α-tocopherol, or a control emulsion containing soybean-bases lipids to parenterally-fed preterm newborns. In spite of its high antioxidant potential, the infants receiving the experimental fat emulsion showed a trend to increase of facultative anaerobes such as enterobacteria and specifically of Klebsiella. This study stresses the need of further work monitoring the impact of early-life parenteral nutrition on the establishment of the intestinal microbiota.This work was funded by the Luis Noé Fernández Award from Fundación Alimerka (Spain).Peer Reviewe

Caracterización de la línea del semillero de investigación “inclusión-discapacidad”: la experiencia del Centro de Gestión de Mercados, Logística y TI

Este documento presenta la caracterización de la línea de investigación del semillero de inclusión-discapacidad y las Sublíneas del Centro de Gestión de Mercados, Logística y TI del SENA relacionada con áreas transversales. Esta caracterización proyecta enlazar e implementar las actividades, acciones y proyectos de investigación que puedan comunicar los productos y resultados de acciones de investigación. A su vez poder ofrecer alternativas a problemáticas de la población y necesidades empresariales de los diferentes sectores y contar con referentes para la toma de decisiones frente a la discapacidad. Esta caracterización se presenta como artículo de reflexión desde una perspectiva analítica, interpretativa, se utiliza una metodología descriptiva iniciando con un reconocimiento teórico de la importancia de la investigación educativa, la discapacidad y dificultades para acceder a oportunidades de formación y educación. En segundo lugar, se describe la relación de la línea con el Sistema de Investigación, Innovación y Desarrollo Tecnológico del SENA- SENNOVA, las necesidades actuales del sector empresarial y casos exitoso, identificando posibles enfoques y temas importantes de investigación para la inclusión y la discapacidad. Por último, una descripción de experiencia exitosa del centro de formación que generaron la necesidad e importancia de realizar investigación, finalmente se identifican las Sublíneas que permitirán dar soluciones a necesidades en la Formación Profesional Integral-FPI que generen impacto a la población con discapacidad y a su vez permita construir conocimientos y aportar a la inclusión en la formación y vinculación laboral

Influence of polyethylene glycol on in vitro gas production profiles and microbial protein synthesis of some shrub species

The aim was to determine effects of addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on in vitro gas production and microbial protein synthesis of the shrub species Acacia constricta, Acacia shaffneri, Calliandra eriophylla, Condalia lycioides, Cordia parvifolia, Larrea tridentata and Mimosa biuncifera, which are commonly consumed by grazing small ruminants in semiarid regions of Mexico despite the abundance of tannins in their foliage. Three individual samples (a minimum of 10 plants of each) of each shrub species were collected from different areas and prepared for chemical and secondary metabolite analysis. In vitro evaluations for each sample of each shrub species were completed in three incubation runs in different weeks using calibrated glass syringes in a 7 × 2 factorial design (i.e., 7 shrub species × 2 treatments with or without PEG). In vitro gas production after 24 and 96 h, partitioning factor (PF), metabolizable energy (ME) content, efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (EMPS), and volatile fatty acids (VFA) were determined. A shrub species × PEG interaction (P<0.05) only occurred for some VFA, such as C3, C4, C4i and C5i, concentrations. Relative to control, addition of PEG increased (P<0.05) the concentrations of individual VFA in A. shaffneri, C. lycioides and C. parvifolia. Interactions between shrub and PEG occurred (P<0.001) for all gas production parameters (i.e., b, k, IVGP24, IVGP48). The fractional rate of gas production and IVGP24 h were highest in A. constricta and lowest (P<0.001) in A. shaffneri. L. tridentata had the highest PF and C. lycioides the lowest. A. constricta had the highest ME content. Purine content and EMPS differed (shrubs × PEG; P<0.001) among shrubs. Microbial protein synthesis was highest in M. biuncifera and lowest in C. eriophylla, while total VFA were highest in C. eriophylla. Incorporation of PEG increased (P<0.001) in vitro fermentation parameters and ME content with L. tridentata and C. lycioides being the highest. PEG also promoted reductions in the EMPS and PF values. In vitro fermentation variables such as fractional rate of gas production, VFA concentrations and EMPS support the potential of A. constricta, C. parvifolia and M. biuncifera as protein and energy sources for small ruminants in semiarid regions of North Mexico. Increments in gas production in these shrub species confirmed the affinity of PEG to bind condensed tannins and reduce EMPS

Implementation of the HepC link test-and-treat community strategy targeting Pakistani migrants with hepatitis C living in Catalonia (Spain) compared with the current practice of the Catalan health system: budget impact analysis

Epidemiology; Health policy; Public healthEpidemiología; Política de salud; Salud públicaEpidemiologia; Política de salut; Salut públicaObjectives To perform a budget impact analysis of the HepClink test-and-treat strategy in which community health agents offer hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing, diagnosis and treatment to the Pakistani population living in Catalonia compared with the current practice of the Catalan health system (without targeted screening programmes). Methods We estimated the population of adult Pakistani migrants registered at the primary care centres in Catalonia by means of the Information System for the Development of Research in Primary Care (n=37 972 in 2019, Barcelona health area). This cohort was followed for a time period of 10 years after HCV diagnosis (2019–2028). The statistical significance of the differences observed in the anti-HCV positivity rate between screened and non-screened was confirmed (α=0.05). The budget impact was calculated from the perspective of the Catalan Department of Health. Sensitivity analyses included different levels of participation in HepClink: pessimistic, optimistic and maximum. Results The HepClink scenario screened a higher percentage of individuals (69.8%) compared with the current scenario of HCV care (39.7%). Viraemia was lower in the HepClink scenario compared with the current scenario (1.7% vs 2.5%, respectively). The budget impact of the HepClink scenario was €884 244.42 in 10 years. Conclusions Scaling up the HepClink strategy to the whole Catalan territory infers a high budget impact for the Department of Health and allows increasing the detection of viraemia (+17.8%) among Pakistani migrants ≥18 years. To achieve a sustainable elimination of HCV by improving screening and treatment rates, there is room for improvement at two levels. First, taking advantage of the fact that 68.08% of the Pakistani population had visited their primary care physicians to reinforce targeted screening in primary care. Second, to use HepClink at the community level to reach individuals with reluctance to use healthcare services.This study was carried out with the support from Gilead Sciences (grant number GLD18-00062, EM)

El surgimiento de resiliencia ciudadana ante la innovación de políticas públicas durante la pandemia

En este articulo el objetivo fue reflexionar sobre la resiliencia ciudadana creada durante la pandemia posterior a la innovación en las políticas públicas. La pandemia del COVID-19 ha sido la mayor crisis de salud pública atendida a nivel mundial que no solo afecto al sector salud, sino que sus repercusiones se vieron también en el ámbito político, económico, social, educativo y laboral. Los problemas sociales y el deterioro de la salud mental se agregaron a la enfermedad física incrementando con ello el estrés no solo en las personas enfermas sino en la mayoría de la población, de ahí la importancia de crear resiliencia ciudadana. Se utilizó la investigación cualitativa empleando la técnica de investigación documental exploratoria. Los primeros resultados a destacar son las conceptualizaciones teóricas encontradas sobre la resiliencia, la alfabetización en salud, la comunicación en salud y la participación ciudadana inmersos en el ámbito de las políticas públicas. Todo esto como base para argumentar la investigación presente. Algunas condiciones para la transformación de la resiliencia fueron sin duda el uso de plataformas digitales, pues lograr la integración de la sociedad en la toma de decisiones permite no solo una participación ciudadana, sino la creación de resiliencia ciudadana. &nbsp;&nbsp

METODOLOGÍA PARA DIAGNOSTICAR LA CULTURA INNOVADORA DE LOS PROFESORES DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE PINAR DEL RÍO

Para dar cumplimiento a la llamada tercera misión de las universidades, se necesita de un claustro de profesores que tribute, en sus prácticas pedagógicas, a la formación profesional con habilidades creativas e innovadoras para la solución de problemas socioeconómicos en los entornos de actuación. Sin embargo, no siempre los resultados exhibidos por los colectivos docentes garantizan el desarrollo de esta función. Alcanzar resultados superiores a los proyectados en los objetivos y criterios de medida, requiere de un cambio en las actitudes y prácticas innovadoras con que se gestionan los procesos universitarios. El objetivo del presente artículo científico es socializar una propuesta metodológica para diagnosticar la cultura de innovación de los profesores de la Universidad de Pinar del Río, Cuba

Fitness and academic performance in adolescents. The mediating role of leptin: DADOS study.

We tested the mediating effect of leptin on the association between physical fitness (PF) components and academic performance indicators in healthy adolescents. A total of 263 adolescents (13.9 ± 0.3 years, 47.5% girls, 12.5% overweight) from the DADOS (Deporte, ADOlescencia y Salud) Study were included in the analysis. PF components were assessed by the handgrip test for upper-limb muscular strength, standing long jump test for lower-limb muscular strength, 4 × 10-m shuttle run test for speed-agility, and 20-m shuttle run test for cardiorespiratory fitness. Plasma leptin concentration was assessed from antecubital vein blood after an overnight fast using a sensitive ELISA kit. Academic performance indicators were assessed through final school grades and through the Spanish version of the SRA Test of Educational Ability. Body composition was assessed by body mass index and skinfold thicknesses. Boot-strapped mediation procedures were performed and indirect effects with confidence intervals not including zero were interpreted as statistically significant. Our findings suggest that the positive associations observed between cardiorespiratory fitness and lower-limb muscular strength with academic performance indicators were mediated by leptin concentration after adjusting for sex, pubertal stage, socioeconomic status, and adiposity (percentage of mediation ranging from 54.61 to 82.02%). Conclusions: Improvements on PF components, particularly in cardiorespiratory fitness and lower-limb muscular strength, might reduce leptin concentration with potential benefits on academic performance in adolescents, independently of adiposity

Women facing psychological abuse: how do they respond to maternal identity humiliation and body shaming?

This research analyzes the decisions made by women facing simulated situations of psychological abuse. Seventy-three women (36.9 ± 13.6 years) who had been victims of domestic violence participated. The analysis was based on their coping strategies, early maladaptive schemes, and their decisions in response to vignettes describing the following domestic violence situations: humiliation to women’s maternal identity with children as witnesses and body shaming. We used Student’s t and Mann–Whitney tests to compare the results between groups. The participants presented some coping strategies (social support seeking, wishful thinking, and professional support seeking) and several early maladaptive schemes (emotional deprivation, defectiveness/shame, social isolation/alienation, failure to achieve, attachment, and subjugation) associated with their reactions facing a situation of humiliation with children as witnesses. When the humiliation was against the body image, their reactions were associated with some coping strategies (wishful thinking, professional support seeking, autonomy, negative auto-focus coping, and positive reappraisal) and one maladaptive scheme (defectiveness/shame). Women who reacted avoidantly showed higher social and professional support seeking but experienced higher indicators of discomfort and deterioration of self-esteem than those who opted for assertive decisions. The presence of children as witnesses seems to be a factor of stress in the configuration of coping strategies and maladaptive schemes in female victims of domestic violence. The evolution of early maladaptive schemes and coping strategies requires observation to avoid the risk of isolation and permanence in victimizing relationships

Still room for improvement in traditional 3D interaction: selecting the fixed axis in the virtual trackball

Virtual trackball techniques are widely used when 3D interaction is performed through interfaces with a reduced number of degrees of freedom such as mice and touchscreens. For decades, most implementations fix a vertical axis of rotation, which is a suitable choice when the vertical axis should indeed be fixed, according to some mental model of the user. We conducted an experiment involving the use of a mouse and a touch device to study usability in terms of performance, perceived usability and mental workload when selecting different fixed axes in accordance with the user’s mental model. The results we obtained indicate that the consistency between the axis fixed by the technique and the object’s intrinsic axis has a positive effect on usability. We believe that implementations that allow to select different fixed axis for each specific object should be considered when designing future reduced-DoF interaction interfaces.This work was supported by the PLUGGY project (https://www.pluggyproject.eu/), within the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, under grant agreement No 726765. The data and the application used to conduct the experiment are available upon request. Open Access funding provided by Universidad de Málaga/CBUA in the framework of the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Natur