Multifamily Determination of Phytohormones and Acidic Herbicides in Fruits and Vegetables by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry under Accredited Conditions

A 7-min multifamily residue method for the simultaneous quantification and confirmation of 8 phytohormones and 27 acidic herbicides in fruit and vegetables using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was developed, validated according to SANTE 12682/2019, and accredited according to UNE-EN-ISO/IEC 17025:2017. Due to the special characteristics of these kinds of compounds, a previous step of alkaline hydrolysis was carried out for breaking conjugates that were potentially formed due to the interactions of the analytes with other components present in the matrix. Sample treatment was based on QuEChERS extraction and optimum detection conditions were individually optimized for each analyte. Cucumber (for high water content commodities) and orange (for high acid and high water content samples) were selected as representative matrices. Matrix-matched calibration was used, and all the validation criteria established in the SANTE guidelines were satisfied. Uncertainty estimation for each target compound was included in the validation process. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of more than 450 samples of cucumber, orange, tomato, watermelon, and zucchini during one year. Several compounds, such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 4-(3-indolyl)butyric acid (IBA), dichlorprop (2,4-DP), 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy acetic acid (MCPA), and triclopyr were found, but always at concentrations lower than the maximum residue level (MRL) regulated by the EU

Early mobilisation in critically ill COVID-19 patients: a subanalysis of the ESICM-initiated UNITE-COVID observational study

Background Early mobilisation (EM) is an intervention that may improve the outcome of critically ill patients. There is limited data on EM in COVID-19 patients and its use during the first pandemic wave. Methods This is a pre-planned subanalysis of the ESICM UNITE-COVID, an international multicenter observational study involving critically ill COVID-19 patients in the ICU between February 15th and May 15th, 2020. We analysed variables associated with the initiation of EM (within 72 h of ICU admission) and explored the impact of EM on mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay, as well as discharge location. Statistical analyses were done using (generalised) linear mixed-effect models and ANOVAs. Results Mobilisation data from 4190 patients from 280 ICUs in 45 countries were analysed. 1114 (26.6%) of these patients received mobilisation within 72 h after ICU admission; 3076 (73.4%) did not. In our analysis of factors associated with EM, mechanical ventilation at admission (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.25, 0.35; p = 0.001), higher age (OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.98, 1.00; p ≤ 0.001), pre-existing asthma (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.73, 0.98; p = 0.028), and pre-existing kidney disease (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.71, 0.99; p = 0.036) were negatively associated with the initiation of EM. EM was associated with a higher chance of being discharged home (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.08, 1.58; p = 0.007) but was not associated with length of stay in ICU (adj. difference 0.91 days; 95% CI − 0.47, 1.37, p = 0.34) and hospital (adj. difference 1.4 days; 95% CI − 0.62, 2.35, p = 0.24) or mortality (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.7, 1.09, p = 0.24) when adjusted for covariates. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that a quarter of COVID-19 patients received EM. There was no association found between EM in COVID-19 patients' ICU and hospital length of stay or mortality. However, EM in COVID-19 patients was associated with increased odds of being discharged home rather than to a care facility. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04836065 (retrospectively registered April 8th 2021)

Investigación inclusiva: diez años de trabajo con el Consejo Asesor del Grupo de Investigación en Diversidad de la Universitat de Girona

Col·lecció: /obertaEl propósito de este libro es esencialmente la celebración de una década de colaboración y de aprendizaje conjunto, y pensamos que una buena manera de celebrarlo es recopilar y dar a conocer nuestra experiencia y otras experiencias de investigación inclusiva en distintos niveles de desarrollo. Así pues, los objetivos del libro son, en primer lugar, dar a conocer y poner en valor esta experiencia de colaboración desarrollada a lo largo de estos años; en segundo lugar, difundir otras experiencias de investigación inclusiva que se están desarrollando en distintos ámbitos territoriales y con distintas trayectorias, con las cuales hemos tenido el placer de colaborar a lo largo de esta década. En los países anglosajones la investigación inclusiva tiene una tradición más larga en comparación con el desarrollo en nuestro contexto, aunque en éstos últimos años han surgido distintos grupos en el Estado español y en países iberoamericanos que desarrollan investigaciones inclusivas con personas con discapacidad intelectual. Hemos invitado a algunos de estos grupos para que compartan su experiencia, valoración y reflexiones. Con ello deseamos contribuir a compartir el conocimiento sobre las prácticas de investigación inclusiva, a visibilizar dichas experiencias y a potenciar su generalización. El libro se estructura en tres partes. La primera parte la forman dos capítulos y se dedica a la experiencia de investigación inclusiva de nuestro grupo de investigación. El capítulo 1, coordinado por Carolina Puyaltó, muestra la trayectoria seguida por el grupo, incidiendo en los distintos roles desarrollados por el Consejo Asesor a lo largo de este recorrido; en las estrategias utilizadas, las formas de difusión y los aprendizajes realizados. El capítulo 2 está elaborado conjuntamente por tres de los asesores (Tania Coll, Marc Crespo y Cristina González) con el apoyo de dos investigadoras del grupo (Ana Freire y Maialen Beltran) y recoge los puntos de vista de las personas participantes en el Consejo Asesor, sobre lo que ha significado para ellos realizar investigaciones, y sobre el papel de dicha investigación en la transformación de la sociedad. La segunda parte está formada por cinco capítulos, cada uno de los cuales presenta una experiencia de investigación inclusiva desarrollada por personas con discapacidad intelectual con el apoyo de investigadoras sin discapacidad. Cada capítulo se sitúa en un contexto distinto: el capítulo 3, elaborado por Isabel Bonello (Comisión Nacional de Personas con Discapacidad de Malta) y Anne-Marie Callus (Universidad de Malta), describe el proceso que han seguido para realizar investigaciones juntas desde el año 2012, las dificultades que se han encontrado y lo que les ayuda a realizar investigación inclusiva. En el capítulo 4 se presenta un proyecto de investigación con metodologías participativas con un grupo de personas con discapacidad en Madrid, desarrollado a lo largo del año 2021. María Gómez, estudiante de doctorado del Instituto Superior de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales de la Universidad de Lisboa y un grupo de siete co-investigadores, la mayoría de los cuales miembros de distintos grupos de autodefensa, explican el proceso seguido para constituir el grupo de investigación y para desarrollar la investigación, centrada en el impacto de la pandemia. Se explica también como se han tomado las decisiones y las valoraciones sobre la participación en investigación. A continuación, en el capítulo 5, Ignacio Haya y Susana Rojas (Universidad de Cantabria), junto con cinco co-investigadores del grupo InclusionLab de dicha universidad, explican el proceso que siguen en su grupo desde su constitución, en 2017, para colaborar en investigaciones, y concretan el desarrollo de una investigación sobre las relaciones sociales y la soledad, aportando reflexiones acerca de lo que les ha aportado la experiencia. En el capítulo 6, Edurne García Iriarte (Trinity College Dublin) y Brian Donohoe (National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers, Inclusive Research Network, Irlanda) explica los orígenes de la red de investigación inclusiva (Inclusive Research Network) en Irlanda, que se inició el año 2008 y que se configura como una organización nacional compuesta de grupos regionales con liderazgo compartido entre personas con discapacidad e investigadoras académicas. El valor añadido de los estudios inclusivos de esta red de investigación, así como las limitaciones y los apoyos para la investigación inclusiva, son temas también discutidos por los autores de este capítulo. Finalmente, el capítulo 7 describe las experiencias y roles de un equipo de investigación compuesto por personas con discapacidad intelectual y académicos en Chile que durante cinco años han trabajado en temas relacionados con la autodeterminación, la accesibilidad cognitiva y la vida independiente. El capítulo finaliza con la identificación de barreras y facilitadores del proceso de investigación. Finalmente, el libro se cierra con el capítulo 8, correspondiente a la síntesis del libro, elaborado por la investigadora del grupo Gemma Diaz-Garolera, en el que se recogen las principales características comunes de las experiencias de investigación inclusiva recogidas en este libro, así como aquellos retos y dificultades que aún debemos superar para garantizar un desarrollo de investigaciones inclusivas sin obstáculosEsta publicación es parte del proyecto PDC2021-121510-I00, financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, la Agencia Estatal de Investigación, el Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia, y la Unión Europea (NextGenerationEU)Conté: Diez años investigando de forma inclusiva en la Universitat de Girona / Carolina Puyaltó -- La experiencia del Consejo Asesor del Grupo de Investigación en Diversidad de la Universitat de Girona / Cristina González Bachs, Tania Coll Ferrer, Marc Crespo Brugues, Ana Rey Freire, Maialen Beltran Arreche -- Haciendo investigación inclusiva en Malta / Isabel Bonello y Anne-Marie Callu

V Semana de las lenguas

El trabajo obtuvo un premio de la Modalidad A de los Premios Tomás García Verdejo a las buenas prácticas educativas en la Comunidad Autónoma de Extremadura para el curso 2011La experiencia 'Semana de las lenguas' se ha llevado a cabo en el CEIP Alfonso VIII (Plasencia, Cáceres) desde el curso 2006-2007 con el objetivo principal de acercar a los alumnos a la multiculturalidad y divesidad lingüística, a su conocimiento y al valor y respeto a las diferencias. En las distintas ediciones de la Semana de las lenguas se eligen 5 lenguas para centrar las actividades en ellas. Se describen las actuaciones realizadas en esta V Semana, destacando un proyecto documental integrado en torno a las lenguas, que consistió en que los alumnos hicieran pequeños trabajos de investigación, buscando recursos y fuentes de informaciónExtremaduraES

Punto de fuga. Punto de encuentro : aproximación interdisciplinar a las Vanguardias Artísticas de la segunda mitad del siglo XX

Resumen basado en el del proyecto. Premiado en la convocatoria: Premios para proyectos de innovación concluidos durante el curso 2007-2008, en los centros educativos no universitarios sostenidos con fondos públicos de la Comunidad Autónoma de Castilla-La Mancha (Orden 12-12-2008, de la Consejería de Educación y Ciencia de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha. Resolución de 5-5-2009, de la Viceconsejería de Educación)El proyecto se desarrolla entre cinco centros: la Escuela de Arte de Guadalajarara, la Escuela de Hostelería y Turismo del IES Antonio Buero Vallejo de Guadalajara, el Conservatorio Provincial de Música de Guadalajara, el IES Profesor Domínguez Ortiz de Azuqueca de Henares y el Colegio Infantil y Primaria Castillo de Pioz. La idea central es la de abordar de forma interdisciplinar un tema común entre centros de distinta naturaleza armonizando el calendario de realización. Se buscan elementos integradores que permitan que el alumno se involucre activamente en un aprendizaje significativo con uno de los elementos clave en la educación, la motivación. Los objetivos son: fomentar la idea de que todas las áreas de conocimiento y creación humanas son producto de épocas y situaciones concretas englobadas en un todo; fomentar la participación activa en el proceso educativo; descubrir que el arte es algo vivo y que puede formar parte de la propia personalidad; fomentar el espíritu colectivo, la relevancia en el cumplimiento de los plazos y la valoración de la mirada del espectador sobre lo realizado; descubrir nuevos modos de comunicación y de relación; promover la reflexión anti-racista, anti-sexista, pacifista y solidaria. El tema elegido, la segunda mitad del siglo XX, especialmente las décadas de los 50, 60 y 70. Años de grandes transformaciones sociales y económicas en Europa. Su aproximación es multidisciplinar, desde la música, las artes plásticas, la literatura, la gastronomía, y el desarrollo del turismo como una industria potente que contribuirá además económicamente a sacar del ostracismo al pais.Castilla La ManchaConsejería de Educación, Ciencia y Cultura. Viceconsejería de Educación y Cultura. Servicio de Documentación; Bulevar del Río Alberche, s. n. - 1 Planta; 45071 Toledo; Tel. +34925286045; Fax +34925247410; [email protected]

Co-infection and ICU-acquired infection in COIVD-19 ICU patients: a secondary analysis of the UNITE-COVID data set

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented major challenges for critical care facilities worldwide. Infections which develop alongside or subsequent to viral pneumonitis are a challenge under sporadic and pandemic conditions; however, data have suggested that patterns of these differ between COVID-19 and other viral pneumonitides. This secondary analysis aimed to explore patterns of co-infection and intensive care unit-acquired infections (ICU-AI) and the relationship to use of corticosteroids in a large, international cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients.Methods: This is a multicenter, international, observational study, including adult patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis admitted to ICUs at the peak of wave one of COVID-19 (February 15th to May 15th, 2020). Data collected included investigator-assessed co-infection at ICU admission, infection acquired in ICU, infection with multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) and antibiotic use. Frequencies were compared by Pearson's Chi-squared and continuous variables by Mann-Whitney U test. Propensity score matching for variables associated with ICU-acquired infection was undertaken using R library MatchIT using the "full" matching method.Results: Data were available from 4994 patients. Bacterial co-infection at admission was detected in 716 patients (14%), whilst 85% of patients received antibiotics at that stage. ICU-AI developed in 2715 (54%). The most common ICU-AI was bacterial pneumonia (44% of infections), whilst 9% of patients developed fungal pneumonia; 25% of infections involved MDRO. Patients developing infections in ICU had greater antimicrobial exposure than those without such infections. Incident density (ICU-AI per 1000 ICU days) was in considerable excess of reports from pre-pandemic surveillance. Corticosteroid use was heterogenous between ICUs. In univariate analysis, 58% of patients receiving corticosteroids and 43% of those not receiving steroids developed ICU-AI. Adjusting for potential confounders in the propensity-matched cohort, 71% of patients receiving corticosteroids developed ICU-AI vs 52% of those not receiving corticosteroids. Duration of corticosteroid therapy was also associated with development of ICU-AI and infection with an MDRO.Conclusions: In patients with severe COVID-19 in the first wave, co-infection at admission to ICU was relatively rare but antibiotic use was in substantial excess to that indication. ICU-AI were common and were significantly associated with use of corticosteroids

Clinical and organizational factors associated with mortality during the peak of first COVID-19 wave : the global UNITE-COVID study

Purpose To accommodate the unprecedented number of critically ill patients with pneumonia caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) expansion of the capacity of intensive care unit (ICU) to clinical areas not previously used for critical care was necessary. We describe the global burden of COVID-19 admissions and the clinical and organizational characteristics associated with outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Methods Multicenter, international, point prevalence study, including adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a diagnosis of COVID-19 admitted to ICU between February 15th and May 15th, 2020. Results 4994 patients from 280 ICUs in 46 countries were included. Included ICUs increased their total capacity from 4931 to 7630 beds, deploying personnel from other areas. Overall, 1986 (39.8%) patients were admitted to surge capacity beds. Invasive ventilation at admission was present in 2325 (46.5%) patients and was required during ICU stay in 85.8% of patients. 60-day mortality was 33.9% (IQR across units: 20%-50%) and ICU mortality 32.7%. Older age, invasive mechanical ventilation, and acute kidney injury (AKI) were associated with increased mortality. These associations were also confirmed specifically in mechanically ventilated patients. Admission to surge capacity beds was not associated with mortality, even after controlling for other factors. Conclusions ICUs responded to the increase in COVID-19 patients by increasing bed availability and staff, admitting up to 40% of patients in surge capacity beds. Although mortality in this population was high, admission to a surge capacity bed was not associated with increased mortality. Older age, invasive mechanical ventilation, and AKI were identified as the strongest predictors of mortality

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium report, data summary of 50 countries for 2010-2015: Device-associated module

•We report INICC device-associated module data of 50 countries from 2010-2015.•We collected prospective data from 861,284 patients in 703 ICUs for 3,506,562 days.•DA-HAI rates and bacterial resistance were higher in the INICC ICUs than in CDC-NHSN's.•Device utilization ratio in the INICC ICUs was similar to CDC-NHSN's. Background: We report the results of International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2010-December 2015 in 703 intensive care units (ICUs) in Latin America, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific. Methods: During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI), we collected prospective data from 861,284 patients hospitalized in INICC hospital ICUs for an aggregate of 3,506,562 days. Results: Although device use in INICC ICUs was similar to that reported from CDC-NHSN ICUs, DA-HAI rates were higher in the INICC ICUs: in the INICC medical-surgical ICUs, the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection, 4.1 per 1,000 central line-days, was nearly 5-fold higher than the 0.8 per 1,000 central line-days reported from comparable US ICUs, the overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was also higher, 13.1 versus 0.9 per 1,000 ventilator-days, as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection, 5.07 versus 1.7 per 1,000 catheter-days. From blood cultures samples, frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas isolates to amikacin (29.87% vs 10%) and to imipenem (44.3% vs 26.1%), and of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (73.2% vs 28.8%) and to imipenem (43.27% vs 12.8%) were also higher in the INICC ICUs compared with CDC-NHSN ICUs. Conclusions: Although DA-HAIs in INICC ICU patients continue to be higher than the rates reported in CDC-NSHN ICUs representing the developed world, we have observed a significant trend toward the reduction of DA-HAI rates in INICC ICUs as shown in each international report. It is INICC's main goal to continue facilitating education, training, and basic and cost-effective tools and resources, such as standardized forms and an online platform, to tackle this problem effectively and systematically

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

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