Specifications of the contents of the European Guide of Diagnosis and Evaluation.

International audienceThis communication evokes the coordination activities that were made within the WP6C group that is in charge of the definition of the CATALYSE toolkit contents. The diagnosis and evaluation guides that have been defined and used by the present CAENTI partners since 1994 were harmonized. The latter wade also made so as to respect the European standards for the concerned data and to facilitate its confrontation with the available indicators at the European level. A series of specifications was defined concerning the functions of this guide (communication instrument/data processing base), its structure (welcome/project/evaluation), the information it includes, and the data processing protocols of this information. The works in progress, of which continuation has now to be organized and planned, are linked to: the precise definition and the contents formulation according to national differences and local practices; the process designs redaction, according to statistical procedures.Cette communication évoque les activités de coordination réalisée par le groupe wp6c qui est responsable de la définition des contenus de la trousse à outils CATALYSE. Dans un premier temps, les guides de diagnostic et d'évaluation qui ont été définis et utilisés par les participants actuels de la CAENTI depuis 1994 ont fait l'objet d'une synthèse pour proposer une sélection d'indicateurs formulés sous forme de questions. Ce sont les informations dont l'intérêt a été reconnu par tous les partenaires. La formulation des questions et de leurs modalités respecte les normes européennes lorsqu'elles existent, afin de faciliter la comparaison avec les indicateurs européens disponibles. Une série de caractéristiques formelles ont été définies au sujet des fonctions et de la structure de ce guide, afin de préparer les étapes suivantes du travail : définition des indicateurs, description de leurs protocoles de traitement et instrumentation

La construcción de un sistema territorial de información laboral

En el ámbito de la investigación–acción, los actores territoriales necesitan disponer de información veraz y actualizada sobre el contexto en el que desean operar. La implementación de acciones dirigidas a resolver problemas en los territorios o a satisfacer, en líneas generales, necesidades latentes en los ciudadanos, requiere partir de un diagnóstico territorial que no siempre está disponible. Por otro lado, y no con menor relevancia, a nivel político, la necesidad de disponer de información socio-económica territorial también es importante, no sólo para diseñar acciones que permitan un crecimiento territorial cohesionado sino también de cara a evaluar el impacto que las decisiones políticas tienen sobre los ciudadanos en diferentes contextos territoriales. Esta cuestión ha sido puesta de manifiesto en numerosos informes y documentos oficiales, máxime en los momentos actuales de crisis económica mundial donde las diferencias territoriales en el seno de los Estados miembros de la Unión Europea se agudizan e impiden alcanzar los objetivos globales estratégicos. En este sentido, la construcción de indicadores socio-económicos armonizados a niveles territoriales inferiores a NUTS 2/3 es una tarea pendiente en el marco de la construcción de indicadores comunitarios de seguimiento de las políticas macroeconómicas y de empleo, en gran parte derivado tanto por la escasez como por el elevado coste que requiere la obtención de información socioeconómica a estos niveles de desagregación territorial.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Characterization of nanostructured SnO2 films deposited by reactive DC-magnetron sputtering

Nanostructured tin oxide thin films were deposited on silicon and glass slides substrates by reactive DC-Magnetron sputtering using a tin target in a mixture of argon and oxygen gases. The substrate temperature was varied in the range from 53 to 243 oC, keeping the other deposition parameters constant. The tin oxide films were characterized by: Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive Spectrometry, X Ray Diffraction, microRaman spectroscopy and UV-VIS spectroscopy. It was found that the substrate temperature has an effect mainly on the structural, morphological and optical properties of the thin films. At 53 and 90 oC the tetragonal crystalline phase was obtained while a mixture of crystalline phases (o-SnO2 and t-SnO2) was obtained at 148, 185 and 243 oC

Stent-induced tracheal stenosis can be predicted by IL-8 expression in rabbits

Background: bare metal stents may cause complications like fibrous encapsulation, granulation and tracheal stenosis. We investigated the behaviour of three commercially available stents in vivo (rabbits) and in vitro (coculture of those stents with epithelial and fibroblast cell lines). Also, we investigated whether development of tracheal stenosis could be predicted by any biological marker. Materials and methods: the tracheae of 30 rabbits were implanted with either nitinol stents, with or without paclitaxel elution, or a cobalt-based stent. An additional ten rabbits underwent mock implantation (controls). Serial peripheral venous blood samples were taken throughout the study, and several cytokines measured. Animals were euthanized on day 90, with immediate tracheal endoscopy and lavage performed, then necropsy. Results: rabbits with cobalt-based stent exhibited more inflammation and the highest stenosis incidence, with reduced survival. Both in vivo and in vitro, this stent induced higher IL-8 levels than nitinol stents. Most important, the presence of stent-induced tracheal stenosis was closely associated to increase in IL-8 expression in blood just 1 day after tracheal stent implantation: a 1·19-fold increase vs. baseline had 83% sensitivity, 83% specificity, 77% positive predictive value, 88%negative predictive value and 83% accuracy to predict development of stenosis. Conclusions: the cobalt-based stent had the highest incidence of tracheal inflammation and stenosis. On the other hand, the paclitaxel-eluting nitinol stent did not prevent those complications and provoked a marked reaction compared with the bare nitinol stent. Early increase in IL-8 expression in blood after stent implantation could predict development of tracheal stenosis in rabbits

WAT ALTERATIONS IN DIABETIC MICE: ITS CONNECTION AND IMPLICATION IN AD PATHOGENESIS

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex disorder and multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms are involved in AD onset and progression. Recent evidences have suggested that metabolic alterations are an important pathological feature in disease progression in AD. Likewise, diabetes and obesity, two mayor metabolic illnesses associated with white adipose tissue expansion, are risk factors for AD. Here, we hypothesize that the white adipose tissue may serve as a key communicator organ between the brain and peripheral metabolic illnesses. We used histological stains, immunohistochemistry and biochemical means to determine changes in the white adipose tissue from WT and db/db mice. Moreover, similar techniques were used in the brain of 3xTg-AD mice that received white fat pads from WT and db/db donors to determine any changes in amyloid and tau pathology. Our study shows that recipient 3xTg-AD mice from db/db fat pads mice develop profound changes in tau pathology due to increased CDK5/p25 expression compared to 3xTg-AD mice that received fad pads from WT mice. This increment in tau level was associated with elevated levels in IL-1β and microglial activation. However, we found that Aβ levels were reduced in recipient 3xTg-AD mice from db/db fat pads compared to 3xTg- AD mice that received fad pads from WT mice. These reduction in Aβ levels were correlated with an increment in microglia phagocytic capacity. Overall, our study demonstrates a novel important crosstalk between AD and diabetes type II through white adipose cells and a differential effect on tau and Aβ pathology

Kidins220 sets the threshold for survival of neural stem cells and progenitors to sustain adult neurogenesis

In the adult mammalian brain, neural stem cells (NSCs) located in highly restricted niches sustain the generation of new neurons that integrate into existing circuits. A reduction in adult neurogenesis is linked to ageing and neurodegeneration, whereas dysregulation of proliferation and survival of NSCs have been hypothesized to be at the origin of glioma. Thus, unravelling the molecular underpinnings of the regulated activation that NSCs must undergo to proliferate and generate new progeny is of considerable relevance. Current research has identified cues promoting or restraining NSCs activation. Yet, whether NSCs depend on external signals to survive or if intrinsic factors establish a threshold for sustaining their viability remains elusive, even if this knowledge could involve potential for devising novel therapeutic strategies. Kidins220 (Kinase D-interacting substrate of 220 kDa) is an essential effector of crucial pathways for neuronal survival and differentiation. It is dramatically altered in cancer and in neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, emerging as a regulatory molecule with important functions in human disease. Herein, we discover severe neurogenic deficits and hippocampal-based spatial memory defects accompanied by increased neuroblast death and high loss of newly formed neurons in Kidins220 deficient mice. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that Kidins220-dependent activation of AKT in response to EGF restraints GSK3 activity preventing NSCs apoptosis. We also show that NSCs with Kidins220 can survive with lower concentrations of EGF than the ones lacking this molecule. Hence, Kidins220 levels set a molecular threshold for survival in response to mitogens, allowing adult NSCs growth and expansion. Our study identifies Kidins220 as a key player for sensing the availability of growth factors to sustain adult neurogenesis, uncovering a molecular link that may help paving the way towards neurorepair

Comisión de plan de estudios de la titulación de Ingeniería Técnica de Telecomunicaciones, especialidad en Sonido e Imagen de la EPS

La red docente de la Comisión de plan de estudios de la titulación de Ingeniería Técnica de Telecomunicación, especialidad en Sonido e Imagen de la EPS ha realizado durante el curso 2007/08 un estudio de los objetivos y competencias del futuro título de grado, así como el análisis y diseño de la posible estructura en bloques y asignaturas obligatorias en la que se podría distribuir dicho título. El estudio toma como base los resultados obtenidos en redes de cursos anteriores (ver memoria de redes 2005/06 y 2006/07), las cuales estaban orientadas al diseño curricular dentro del marco de los créditos ECTS para la convergencia al Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior, y sobre todo, se basa en la experiencia de los propios participantes en trabajos o redes previas. El objetivo principal de este proyecto es el diseño curricular del futuro título de grado en Ingeniería de Telecomunicación en Sonido e Imagen, directamente relacionada con la actual Ingeniería Técnica de Telecomunicación, especialidad en Sonido e Imagen, que se imparte en la Universidad de Alicante. Para ello se han seguido las pautas generales establecidas por el Real Decreto de ordenación de Enseñanzas Universitarias Oficiales (BOE, 30 de octubre de 2007), así como otros documentos elaborados por el Colegio Oficial de Ingenieros Técnicos de Telecomunicación y la Comisión de Universidades de Ingeniería Técnica de Telecomunicación

Opioids and Ocular Surface Pathology: A Literature Review of New Treatments Horizons

This review discusses the role of opioids in the corneal surface and the different pathways and therapeutic methods of management. A literature review was performed using PubMed database. For the database search, the main searching words “opioid” and “topical opioid treatment” were used with the descriptors “cornea”, “ocular surface”, “neuropathic corneal pain”, “corneal sensitivity” and “naltrexone”; original scientific articles and reviews were included to achieve the purpose of the review. The endogenous opioid system has relevant functions in the organism, and in daily use, opioids are used as painkillers. However, these drugs may be employed for other indications as opioid pathways have a wide spectrum. The corneal surface for topical treatment is easily accessible, hence sparing the side effects of systemic opioids. Instillation of opioid antagonist substances, such as naltrexone, increases corneal healing rates and stimulates the division of corneal epithelium cells without deleterious effects. The natural modulation of endogenous opioids controls different forms of pain, including inflammatory and neuropathic pain, both in the ocular surface and in the central nervous system. There are diverse methods in controlling pain using opioids, especially in refractory forms. This review attempts to collect the literature about corneal surface and opioid pathways to provide an overview image and a possible direction of the news treatments

Famílies botàniques de plantes medicinals

Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona. Ensenyament: Grau de Farmàcia, Assignatura: Botànica Farmacèutica, Curs: 2013-2014, Coordinadors: Joan Simon, Cèsar Blanché i Maria Bosch.Els materials que aquí es presenten són els recull de 175 treballs d’una família botànica d’interès medicinal realitzats de manera individual. Els treballs han estat realitzat per la totalitat dels estudiants dels grups M-2 i M-3 de l’assignatura Botànica Farmacèutica durant els mesos d’abril i maig del curs 2013-14. Tots els treballs s’han dut a terme a través de la plataforma de GoogleDocs i han estat tutoritzats pel professor de l’assignatura i revisats i finalment co-avaluats entre els propis estudiants. L’objectiu principal de l’activitat ha estat fomentar l’aprenentatge autònom i col·laboratiu en Botànica farmacèutica

CIBERER : Spanish national network for research on rare diseases: A highly productive collaborative initiative

Altres ajuts: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.CIBER (Center for Biomedical Network Research; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red) is a public national consortium created in 2006 under the umbrella of the Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII). This innovative research structure comprises 11 different specific areas dedicated to the main public health priorities in the National Health System. CIBERER, the thematic area of CIBER focused on rare diseases (RDs) currently consists of 75 research groups belonging to universities, research centers, and hospitals of the entire country. CIBERER's mission is to be a center prioritizing and favoring collaboration and cooperation between biomedical and clinical research groups, with special emphasis on the aspects of genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cellular research of RDs. This research is the basis for providing new tools for the diagnosis and therapy of low-prevalence diseases, in line with the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) objectives, thus favoring translational research between the scientific environment of the laboratory and the clinical setting of health centers. In this article, we intend to review CIBERER's 15-year journey and summarize the main results obtained in terms of internationalization, scientific production, contributions toward the discovery of new therapies and novel genes associated to diseases, cooperation with patients' associations and many other topics related to RD research