El sistema de adivinación Ifá. Estudio de la actividad adivinatoria de la regla de Ifá llevada a cabo por la figura del Babalawo en Santiago de Cuba

Treballs Finals de Grau Antropologia Social i Cultural, Facultat de Geografia i Història, Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2014-2015, Tutor: Gerard HortaEl sistema de adivinación Ifá se practica en las comunidades yorubas de la diáspora africana en latinoamérica. En contraste con otras formas de adivinación de la religión que recurren a un medium, la adivinación Ifá no depende de una persona que tiene poderes proféticos, sino de un sistema de signos que son interpretados por un adivino, el sacerdote Ifá o Babalawo

A novel Granule Cell Progenitors culture method as a new tool for investigating Hedgehog and other pathways relevant to cerebellar development and tumorigenesis

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is an essential pathway involved in development and cancer. Via the interaction with the 12-span transmembrane receptor Ptch, Hh ligands (Sonic, Desert and Indian Hh) release the activity of the 7-span membrane protein Smo. Yet uncompletely characterized molecular mechanisms, involving postranslational modifications of Smo and its shuttling within the primary cilium, translate the signal into the activation of the Gli family of transcription factors. The interplay between the three Gli members (Gil1, 2 and 3) regulates Hh-dependent transcription of a number of gene targets, many of which are master regulators of cell proliferation, such as N-Myc and Cyclin-D. Hh pathway plays a pivotal role in cerebellar postnatal development, where it appears the main promoter of granule cell progenitors (GCPs) expansion, which in the mouse occurs between postnatal day (P)1 and P14, the time frame in which Hh signalling in the cerebellum raises up to its maximum (P7) and declines. By P14-P21 cerebellar maturation is completed. Silencing of Hh activity at the proper developmental time is molecularly regulated at multiple levels, some of which are still partially obscure, and appears to be essential to prevent transformation of GCPs into medulloblastoma. Despite intense investigations, several aspects of Hh pathway activation and deactivation are not completely understood or conflicting interpretations exist. This is at least partially due to lack of appropriate models for the study of this pathway, in vitro. Indeed, Hh pathway gets quickly repressed in cell cultures, both in normal or cancer cells. Only transient cultures of freshly explanted primary granule cells (GC) allows Hh pathway investigation in a “naive” context, but only for few days. Since this has long represented a big limitation in the field, we have recently developed a new procedure for GCPs colture, which overcome the limits of currently available models (transients cell cultures among other problems). Under the hypothesis that eliminating Hh-inhibiting growth factors and under the direct stimulation of Hh signal in the cell colture medium, GCs could be grown as neurosphere, we indeed generated a new primary model of GCPs with high and continuosly active Hh signalling. Under defined concentrations of the SMO agonist SAG, cells explanted from P7 cerebelli can be undefinetely grown in colture as neurospheres. These neurospheres demonstrate complete activation overtime of the main effectors of Hh pathway Gli1 and N-Myc. They further show self-renewal capability in vitro, and constitutive expression of stemness genes, such as POU3f2, POU5f1, NANOG, and SOX2. These cultures do not get transformed during long periods in culture, as suggested by their continuous dependence on SAG. SAG-dependent neurospheres express ZIC1, ATOH1 and NESTIN, which define their origin as GCPs. Consistently, these cells may be induced to differentiate into a homogeneous population of mature GC, expressing specifics markers such as TUBB3 and GABRA 6. Moreover, SAG-dependent cultures cannot be generated by the subventricular zone, but only from the mouse cerebellar explants taken at P1-P7. Primary and continuously growing neurospheres of the same type can be generated by GC explanted from Ptch KO animal, even without SAG, further suggesting that, in the absence of specific Hh inhibitory factors, constitutive Hh activation is the only element required for their growth and survival. Overall, these data suggest that using culture conditions that mimic the appropriate biological signalling, allowed the isolation a of transient amplifying GCP population in vitro, which is able to propagate in culture for undefined periods of time. This model represents a novel and important tool to study issues related to physiological and pathological aspects of Hh-dependent GCPs growth and differentiation in a cell autonomous environment. By generating GC neurospheres from different mouse models we are now addressing important issues related to Hh signaling, but also to other pathways. In example, we have shown that the SmoM2 (Trp535Leu) mutation expressed in the transgenic SMOA1 medulloblastoma mouse model does not imply a full and constitutive activation of the SMO receptor, as commonly thought. Moreover, we have used these cultures to show that the knock-out of the DNA repair gene NBS1 specifically impairs Hh-dependent GCPs growth

Influencia de temperatura y tiempo de almacenamiento de comprimidos en la velocidad de disolución

Tesis doctoral, Univ. Complutense, 1981.Depto. de Farmacia Galénica y Tecnología AlimentariaFac. de FarmaciaTRUEProQuestpu

Retinol and alpha-Tocopherol Contents, Fat Color, and Lipid Oxidation as Traceability Tools of the Feeding System in Suckling Payoya Kids

Simple Summary In Spain, goat farms are mainly oriented to milk production, although kid meat contributes to their sustainability, particularly in autochthonous breeds such as Payoya. Usually, kids are fed artificial milk until slaughter, allowing the use of goat milk for the commercialization of cheese, but several studies indicate that feeding kids natural milk improve the quality of their meat. The aim of the present study was to find traceability markers to discriminate between kids that are fed natural milk (with different goat management systems) and those fed a milk replacer. For this purpose, we proposed the quantification of retinol and alpha-tocopherol contents in plasma and fat, the amount of kidney fat, lipid oxidation, and some fat color parameters as potential markers. The results showed that plasma retinol concentrations were higher in kids fed feeding systems with synthetic vitamins. The plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations were higher in kids fed grass-based feeding systems (which contain the natural forms of these vitamins). A dilution effect was shown for the retinol concentration in fat. Collectively, the analyzed variables allowed a discriminant analysis to correctly classify kids according to their feeding system and could ensure traceability to consumers. The effects of Payoya kid feeding systems on the fat-soluble vitamin (retinol/alpha-tocopherol) contents, fat content, fat color, and the oxidation index were evaluated to determine their potential for use as feeding system traceability tools. Four groups of Payoya kids (55 animals in total) fed milk exclusively were studied: a group fed a milk replacer (MR) and three groups fed natural milk from dams reared with different management systems (mountain grazing (MG), cultivated meadow (CM) and total mixed ration (TMR)). Kids were slaughtered around one month of age and 8 kg of live weight. Kids from the MG and CM groups presented lower retinol (5.56 and 3.72 mu g/mL) and higher alpha-tocopherol plasma (11.43 and 8.85 mu g/mL) concentrations than those from the TMR and MR groups (14.98 and 22.47 mu g/mL of retinol; 2.49 and 0.52 mu g/mL of alpha-tocopherol, respectively) (p < 0.001). With respect to fat, kids with a higher intramuscular fat percentage (CM and TMR groups) had lower retinol contents (16.52 and 15.99 mu g/mL, respectively) than kids from the MG and MR groups (26.81 and 22.63 mu g/mL, respectively) (p < 0.001). A dilution effect of vitamins on fat was shown: the higher the amount of fat, the lower the vitamin concentrations, the higher the lipid oxidation index (MDA), and the lower the SUM (absolute value of the integral of the translated spectra between 450 and 510 nm). A discriminant analysis that included all studied variables showed that 94.4% of the kids were classified correctly according to their feeding system and could allow traceability to the consumer

Teachers' Knowledge and Stigmatizing Attitudes Associated With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Effectiveness of a Brief Educational Intervention

Because children and adolescents are vulnerable to developing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), classroom teachers play an important role in the early identification and intervention in students with OCD. The present study aims to explore the recognition of OCD, general knowledge about this disorder, implications in the classroom, and stigmatizing attitudes among teachers, as well as the effectiveness of a brief educational intervention about OCD. Participants (n = 95; mean age = 43. 29 years old; 64.3% female) were primary and secondary school teachers who were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group. All of them completed a set of self-report questionnaires, read an educational fact sheet (either about OCD in the experimental group or about a healthy diet in the control group), and again completed the questionnaires. Results show that prior to the intervention, most of the teachers identified the contamination and order OCD symptoms described in a vignette as specific to OCD (82.1%) and would recommend talking about the problem (98.9%) and seeking help (94.7%). However, only a few (36.8%) knew about the most effective OCD treatments or identified compulsions as a main OCD symptom (33%). Moreover, only about half of the teachers correctly identified OCD's possible interference in classroom routines, such as delays to achieve perfection or concentration problems, and strategies for dealing with OCD, such as continuing with the class rhythm. Stigma levels were from low to moderate. After the brief educational intervention, participants in the experimental group increased their knowledge about OCD, improved their strategies for managing a student with OCD symptoms, and had fewer stigmatizing attitudes associated with pity (p < 0.05). These changes were not observed in the control group. We can conclude that this brief and easy-to-administer intervention is an effective educational intervention to significantly improve teachers' knowledge and attitudes, at least in the short-term. These results are especially relevant because OCD is associated with high interference and long delays in seeking treatment, and teachers have a unique opportunity to help with prevention, early identification, and recommending an adequate intervention for OCD

Modes of action of rosemary and Debaryomyces hansenii against Aspergillus westerdijkiae in dry-cured meat matrix

Aspergillus westerdijkiae is an ochratoxin A (OTA) producer mould in dry-cured meat products. Natural strategies to control ochratoxigenic moulds using biocontrol agents (BCAs) are currently in the spotlight. The aim of this study was to test the potential antiochratoxigenic activity of rosemary leaves (R), rosemary essential oil (REO) and Debaryomyces hansenii FHSCC 253H (Dh) as BCAs against A. westerdijkiae in a dry-cured fermented sausage-based medium. The mechanisms involved in their effect were also analysed by Proteomics, using a Q-Exactive Plus. Three batches were carried out: a control without BCAs, another one with R+REO and one with Dh. R (2 g/kg) and Dh (100 μL of 10^6 cells/mL) were added to the medium and REO was added on the casing, which was put onto the medium surface to simulate the real product. Significant OTA reductions of 73.87 % and 88.26 % were provoked by R+REO and Dh, respectively. Proteomics revealed that the BCAs affected to proteins linked to OTA biosynthesis and the cell wall integrity pathway (CWI). Proteins from PKS ER domain, directly involved in mycotoxin biosynthesis, were diminished in abundance by both treatments (R+REO or Dh). R+REO altered the CWI by decreasing proteins related to the synthesis of cell surface polysaccharides and actin assembly, and increasing the cell wall protein PhiA, involved in conidiogenesis. Dh decreased the NRPS protein, indispensable for the formation of the OTB, an OTA precursor, and affected to the CWI by lowering the abundance of proteins associated with the actin binding, the synthesis of polysaccharides and the response against cell wall stress agents. Therefore, rosemary and D. hansenii FHSCC 253H are potentially useful to minimise the hazard posed by A. westerdijkiae in dry-cured fermented sausages within a HAPPCC framework.This research was funded by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT/MCTES to CIMO, UIDB/00690/2020). Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional-“Una manera de hacer Europa” (GR18056). Grant PID2019-104260GB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033. Grant BES-2017-081340 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ESF Investing in your future”. Grant UNEX-AE-3394 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. Date of PhD graduation: 14/12/2021info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efectividad de la aplicación del programa Echomantra en una adolescente con anorexia nerviosa y su familiar: Un estudio de caso

El programa ECHOMANTRA tiene como finalidad facilitar la transición de las pacientes con un trastorno de la conducta alimentaria desde el ingreso hospitalario a su vida cotidiana. Consta de una intervención para los/las familiares (ECHO; Treasure et al., 2015) y otra para las pacientes (MANTRA, Schmidt, et al, 2014). El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la efectividad del programa ECHOMANTRA, aplicado junto al tratamiento usual, en una adolescente de 15 años con anorexia nerviosa (AN) y su madre. Se utilizó un diseño de caso único y medidas pre-post, con seguimiento a los 3 y 6 meses. En la paciente se evaluó: patología alimentaria (EDE-Q), estado emocional (DASS-21), ajuste psicosocial (EQ-5D-5L y el CIA 3.0) y motivación al cambio; y en la madre: emoción expresada (FQ), impacto de los síntomas (EDSIS), acomodación a la enfermedad (EAISA), estado emocional (DASS-21) y habilidades de cuidadora (CSS). Ambos programas constaban de 8 sesiones online individuales y semanales. Los resultados mostraron una reducción en la sintomatología de AN, aumento del IMC, mejora del estado emocional, motivación al cambio y ajuste psicosocial; y en la madre, mejoró el estado emocional y las habilidades de cuidado, y disminuyó la acomodación a la enfermedad, la emoción expresada y el impacto de los síntomas. Estos cambios se mantuvieron en el seguimiento. Ambas valoraron el programa como satisfactorio. La aceptabilidad y la eficiencia del tratamiento de la AN puede mejorarse utilizando el ECHOMANTRA para preparar la transición de la atención hospitalaria, apoyando a las pacientes y familiares.Effectiveness of the application of the Echomantra in an adolescent girl with anorexia nervosa and her caregiver: A case study. The aim of the ECHOMANTRA program is to facilitate the transition from hospital back into the community. ECHOMANTRA is based on interventions for carers (Experienced Carers Helping Others, ECHO; Treasure et al. 2016) and patients (Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults, MANTRA; Schmidt, et al., 2014). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the ECHOMANTRA program, applied together with the usual treatment, in a 15-yearold adolescent girl with anorexia nervosa (AN) and her mother. A single case design and pre-post measures were used, as well as follow-up at 3 and 6 months. The patient was assessed for: eating pathology (EDE-Q), emotional state (DASS-21), psychosocial adjustment (EQ-5D-5L and CIA 3.0) and motivation to change. In the mother: expressed emotion (FQ), symptom impact (EDSIS), accommodation to illness (EAISA), emotional state (DASS-21) and her caregiver skills (CSS) were assessed. Both programs consisted of 8 on-line sessions, which were conducted individually and on a weekly basis. The results showed a reduction in AN symptomatology, increased BMI, improved emotional state, motivation to change and psychosocial adjustment; and in the mother, improved emotional state and caregiving skills, and reduced accommodation to illness, expressed emotion and the impact of symptoms. These changes were maintained at follow-up. Both patient and family valued the program as satisfactory. Both the acceptability and efficiency of treatment for AN may be improved by using ECHOMANATRA to prepare for transition from inpatient care, by giving support to both patients and their carers

MRE11 inhibition highlights a replication stress-dependent vulnerability of MYCN-driven tumors

MRE11 is a component of the MRE11/RAD50/NBS1 (MRN) complex, whose activity is essential to control faithful DNA replication and to prevent accumulation of deleterious DNA double-strand breaks. In humans, hypomorphic mutations in these genes lead to DNA damage response (DDR)-defective and cancer-prone syndromes. Moreover, MRN complex dysfunction dramatically affects the nervous system, where MRE11 is required to restrain MYCN-dependent replication stress, during the rapid expansion of progenitor cells. MYCN activation, often due to genetic amplification, represents the driving oncogenic event for a number of human tumors, conferring bad prognosis and predicting very poor responses even to the most aggressive therapeutic protocols. This is prototypically exemplified by neuroblastoma, where MYCN amplification occurs in about 25% of the cases. Intriguingly, MRE11 is highly expressed and predicts bad prognosis in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. Due to the lack of direct means to target MYCN, we explored the possibility to trigger intolerable levels of replication stress-dependent DNA damage, by inhibiting MRE11 in MYCN-amplified preclinical models. Indeed, either MRE11 knockdown or its pharmacological inhibitor mirin induce accumulation of replication stress and DNA damage biomarkers in MYCN-amplified cells. The consequent DDR recruits p53 and promotes a p53-dependent cell death, as indicated by p53 loss- and gain-of-function experiments. Encapsulation of mirin in nanoparticles allowed its use on MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma xenografts in vivo, which resulted in a sharp impairment of tumor growth, associated with DDR activation, p53 accumulation, and cell death. Therefore, we propose that MRE11 inhibition might be an effective strategy to treat MYCN-amplified and p53 wild-type neuroblastoma, and suggest that targeting replication stress with appropriate tools should be further exploited to tackle MYCN-driven tumors

Assessing knowledge and attitudes towards addictions in medical residents of a general hospital

Addiction treatment training has been recognized to be an essential part of the curriculum in psychiatry and general medicine. Our objective in this study was to measure the knowledge and attitudes towards addictions among medical residents of a general hospital in Catalonia, Spain. Method Within a sample of medical residents, we administered a questionnaire based on previous literature including attitudes towards patients with drug use problems, evaluation of knowledge and beliefs about harm reduction policies. Additionally, basic professional data, and personal as well as family consumption history were recorded. Findings Four dimensions were found within the beliefs of medical residents about drug treatment and training: judgement of medical treatment of addictions and harm reduction, attitudes toward patients, importance given to training and assessment of training received. When correlating these dimensions with personal characteristics, we found those residents with personal or family history of drug use to have higher positive attitudes towards patients with addictions, and also better predisposition towards harm reduction policies. Residents working with these patients tended to give more importance to training and knowledge, and to have a better perception of the training already received, compared with residents without this contact. Conclusions Although residents working often with addicted patients appear to have positive attitudes towards addiction treatment, according to our results, it seems very important to improve training policies, awareness and attitudes towards addiction among the whole medical community

Comorbidities at Diagnosis, Survival, and Cause of Death in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Population-Based Study

Leucèmia limfocítica crònica; Comorbiditat; Causes de mortChronic lymphocytic leukemia; Comorbidity; Cause of deathLeucemia linfocítica crónica; Comorbilidad; Causas de muerteThis study aimed to examine the prevalence of comorbidities in patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and to assess its influence on survival and cause-specific mortality at a population-based level. Incident CLL cases diagnosed in the Girona province (Spain) during 2008-2016 were extracted from the Girona Cancer Registry. Rai stage and presence of comorbidities at diagnosis, further categorized using the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), were obtained from clinical records. Observed (OS) and relative survival (RS) were estimated and Cox's proportional hazard models were used to explore the impact of comorbidity on mortality. Among the 400 cases included in the study, 380 (99.5%) presented at least one comorbidity at CLL diagnosis, with diabetes without end organ damage (21%) being the most common disease. 5-year OS and RS were 68.8 (95% CI: 64.4-73.6) and 99.5 (95% CI 3.13-106.0), respectively, which decreased markedly with increasing CCI, particularly in patients with CCI ≥ 3. Multivariate analysis identified no statistically significant association between the CCI and overall CLL-related or CLL-unrelated mortality. In conclusion, a high CCI score negatively influenced the OS and RS of CLL patients, yet its effect on mortality was statistically non-significant when also considering age and the Rai stage.We thank CERCA programme/Generalitat de Catalunya for institutional support. Thiswork was supported by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness—Carlos III Instituteof Health co-funded by FEDER funds/European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)—A way tobuild Europe (PI11/02213, PI15/00966 and CIBERESP); and with the support of the Secretariat forUniversities and Research of the Ministry of Business and Knowledge of the Government of Catalonia(2017-SGR-733). IDIBGI is a member of the CERCA Programme, Generalitat de Catalunya