Cumplimiento de las recomendaciones de práctica de actividad física en función de los cutoffs points y el género en estudiantes universitarios españoles

The main objectives of this study were: a) study the levels of physical activity (PA), according to the different cutoffs points used and gender; b) analyze the compliance of different international recommendations for physical activity by gender and cutoff points. 95 university students, 33 men and 62 women (21, 96 years) wore accelerometers to assess their levels of PA using uniaxial and triaxial cutoffs points. Results indicated higher PA levels in men in vigorous intensity, not in moderate. A high percentage of the sample fulfills the recommendations for moderate PA, nevertheless, for vigorous PA, it is low. Analyzes of PA with triaxial cutoffs points are higher than the uniaxial ones, besides a greatest compliance of PA recommendations of Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory (2008) and World Health Organization (2010) recommendations are used.Los principales objetivos de este estudio fueron: a) estudiar los niveles de actividad física (AF) según los diferentes puntos de corte utilizados y el género; b) analizar el cumplimiento de las diferentes recomendaciones internacionales de AF según el género y puntos de corte. 95 universitarios, 33 hombres y 62 mujeres (21, 96 años + 2,33) llevaron acelerómetro para medir sus niveles de AF utilizando puntos de corte uniaxiales y triaxiales. Los resultados señalan mayores niveles de AF en los hombres para la AF vigorosa, pero no en la moderada. La mayoría de la muestra cumple con las recomendaciones de AF moderada, sin embargo, en la AF vigorosa el cumplimiento es bajo. El análisis de la AF con puntos de corte triaxiales son mayores a los uniaxiales, así como un mayor porcentaje de cumplimiento cuando se utilizan las recomendaciones establecidas por la Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory y la World Health Organization

Atenuación del haz de radiación al interaccionar con la mesa de tratamiento de un acelerador lineal varian IX con el gantry posicionado a 180°

En el Hospital de Oncología de CMN Siglo XXI, asis-ten aproximadamente 370 pacientes por día, de los cuales aproximadamente un 70% incluyen un campo de tratamiento con el gantry posicionado a 180°. Con el gantry en esta posición, la mesa de tratamiento se interpone en el trayecto entre el haz de radiación y el paciente, por lo cual es necesario conocer un valor cuantitativo de la atenuación que la mesa produce. Por lo que en este trabajo, se determinó el porcentaje de atenuación del haz de radiación al interaccionar con la mesa de tratamient

Cryptococcus neoformans Capsular Enlargement and Cellular Gigantism during Galleria mellonella Infection

We have studied infection of Cryptococcus neoformans in the non-vertebrate host Galleria mellonella with particular interest in the morphological response of the yeast. Inoculation of C. neoformans in caterpillars induced a capsule-independent increase in haemocyte density 2 h after infection. C. neoformans manifested a significant increase in capsule size after inoculation into the caterpillar. The magnitude of capsule increase depended on the temperature, being more pronounced at 37°C than at 30°C, which correlated with an increased virulence of the fungus and reduced phagocytosis at 37°C. Capsule enlargement impaired phagocytosis by haemocytes. Incubation of the yeast in G. mellonella extracts also resulted in capsule enlargement, with the polar lipidic fraction having a prominent role in this effect. During infection, the capsule decreased in permeability. A low proportion of the cells (<5%) recovered from caterpillars measured more than 30 µm and were considered giant cells. Giant cells recovered from mice were able to kill the caterpillars in a manner similar to regular cells obtained from in vivo or grown in vitro, establishing their capacity to cause disease. Our results indicate that the morphological transitions exhibited by C. neoformans in mammals also occur in a non-vertebrate host system. The similarities in morphological transitions observed in different animal hosts and in their triggers are consistent with the hypothesis that the cell body and capsular responses represent an adaptation of environmental survival strategies to pathogenesis

Functional upgrading in China’s export processing sector

Functional upgrading occurs when a firm acquires more sophisticated functions within an existing value chain. In this paper, we analyze if there is evidence of this type of upgrading in China’s export processing regime by investigating dynamics in the relative prevalence of Import & Assembly (IA) versus Pure Assembly (PA) processing trade over the period 2000-2013. Firms in both regimes provide similar manufacturing services to foreign companies, but IA firms also conduct the sophisticated tasks of quality control, searching, financing and storing imported materials. Consistent with a trend of functional upgrading, we show that the share of IA trade in total processing trade has increased rapidly during the period 2000-2006, both overall and within product categories. Furthermore, we find that this trend has gone hand in hand with improvements in a sector’s labor productivity and unit values. Against expectations, we find that this process has slowed down notably during the period 2006-2013.status: publishe

Determinants of reef fish assemblages in tropical Oceanic islands

Diversity patterns are determined by biogeographic, energetic, and anthropogenic factors, yet few studies have combined them into a large‐scale framework in order to decouple and compare their relative effects on fish faunas. Using an empirical dataset derived from 1527 underwater visual censuses (UVC) at 18 oceanic islands (five different marine provinces), we determined the relative influence of such factors on reef fish species richness, functional dispersion, density and biomass estimated from each UVC unit. Species richness presented low variation but was high at large island sites. High functional dispersion, density, and biomass were found at islands with large local species pool and distance from nearest reef. Primary productivity positively affected fish richness, density and biomass confirming that more productive areas support larger populations, and higher biomass and richness on oceanic islands. Islands densely populated by humans had lower fish species richness and biomass reflecting anthropogenic effects. Species richness, functional dispersion, and biomass were positively related to distance from the mainland. Overall, species richness and fish density were mainly influenced by biogeographical and energetic factors, whereas functional dispersion and biomass were strongly influenced by anthropogenic factors. Our results extend previous hypotheses for different assemblage metrics estimated from empirical data and confirm the negative impact of humans on fish assemblages, highlighting the need for conservation of oceanic islands.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR

Systolic blood pressure and the risk of kidney replacement therapy and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 4-5

Introduction In patients with chronic kidney disease stage 4 and 5 (CKD stages 4-5) without dialysis and arterial hypertension, it is unknown if the values of systolic blood pressure (SBP) considered in control <120 mmHg are associated with kidney replacement therapy (KRT) and mortality. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, hypertensive CKD stages 4-5 patients attending the Renal Health Clinic at the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara were enrolled. We divided them into those that achieved SBP 120 mmHg), the uncontrolled group. Our primary objective was to analyze the association between the controlled group and KRT; the secondary objective was the mortality risk, and if there were subgroups of patients that achieved more benefit. Data were analyzed using Stata software, version. 15.1. Results During 2017 to 2022 a total 275 hypertensive CKD stages 4-5 patients met the inclusion criteria for the analysis, 62 in the controlled group and 213 in the uncontrolled group; mean age 61 years, 49.82% were male, SBP was significantly lower in the controlled group (111 mmHg) compared to the uncontrolled group (140 mmHg), eGFR was similar between groups (20.41 ml/min/1.73m2). There was a tendency to increase the mortality risk in the uncontrolled group (HR 6.47 [0.78-53.27]; p= 0.082) and an association by the Kaplan-Meir analysis (Log-rank p= 0.043). The subgroup analysis for risk of KRT in the controlled group revealed that patients ≥ 61 years had a lower risk of KRT (HR 0.87 [95% CI, 0-76-0.99]; p=0.03, p of interaction = 0.005), but no differences were found in the subgroup analysis for mortality. In a follow-up of 1.34 years, no association was found in the risk of KRT according to the controlled or uncontrolled groups in a multivariate Cox analysis. Conclusion In a retrospective cohort of patients with CKD stages 4-5 and hypertension, SBP >120 mmHg was not associated with risk of KRT but could be associated with the risk of death. Clinical trials are required in this group of patients to demonstrate the impact of reaching the SBP goals recommended by the KDIGO guidelines

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field

Impact of COVID-19 infection on the outcome of patients with ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We evaluated whether stroke severity, functional outcome, and mortality are different in patients with ischemic stroke with or without coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. METHODS: A prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study in Catalonia, Spain. Recruitment was consecutive from mid-March to mid-May 2020. Patients had an acute ischemic stroke within 48 hours and a previous modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0 to 3. We collected demographic data, vascular risk factors, prior mRS score, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, rate of reperfusion therapies, logistics, and metrics. Primary end point was functional outcome at 3 months. Favourable outcome was defined depending on the previous mRS score. Secondary outcome was mortality at 3 months. We performed mRS shift and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: We evaluated 701 patients (mean age 72.3±13.3 years, 60.5% men) and 91 (13%) had COVID-19 infection. Median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was higher in patients with COVID-19 compared with patients without COVID-19 (8 [3–18] versus 6 [2–14], P=0.049). Proportion of patients with a favourable functional outcome was 33.7% in the COVID-19 and 47% in the non-COVID-19 group. However, after a multivariable logistic regression analysis, COVID-19 infection did not increase the probability of unfavourable functional outcome. Mortality rate was 39.3% among patients with COVID-19 and 16.1% in the non-COVID-19 group. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, COVID-19 infection was a risk factor for mortality (hazard ratio, 3.14 [95% CI, 2.10–4.71]; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ischemic stroke and COVID-19 infection have more severe strokes and a higher mortality than patients with stroke without COVID-19 infection. However, functional outcome is comparable in both groups

Ten millennia of hepatitis B virus evolution

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been infecting humans for millennia and remains a global health problem, but its past diversity and dispersal routes are largely unknown. We generated HBV genomic data from 137 Eurasians and Native Americans dated between similar to 10,500 and similar to 400 years ago. We date the most recent common ancestor of all HBV lineages to between similar to 20,000 and 12,000 years ago, with the virus present in European and South American hunter-gatherers during the early Holocene. After the European Neolithic transition, Mesolithic HBV strains were replaced by a lineage likely disseminated by early farmers that prevailed throughout western Eurasia for similar to 4000 years, declining around the end of the 2nd millennium BCE. The only remnant of this prehistoric HBV diversity is the rare genotype G, which appears to have reemerged during the HIV pandemic.Molecular Technology and Informatics for Personalised Medicine and Healt