Inferencia de Redes de Asociación de Genes Guiada por Similitud Semántica

En este trabajo se propone el uso de conocimiento a priori como heurística en métodos de inferencia de redes de genes a partir de datos de expresión obtenidos con tecnología de Microarray. Utilizamos Gene Ontology [15] como fuente de conocimiento a priori. Este repositorio se nutre de la información de anotaciones de relaciones en el material genético basadas en evidencias científicas. En este trabajo se propone el uso de medidas de similitud semántica, de manera más concreta la medida SimGIC en un método de inferencia basado en regresión. La propuesta se compara frente al mismo método sin integración de información y frente a otros métodos clásicos obteniendo mejoras y resultados comparables en otros casos

Number needed to freeze: cumulative live birth rate after fertility preservation in women with endometriosis

Research question: How does the number of oocytes used affect the cumulative live birth rate in endometriosis patients who had their oocytes vitrified for fertility preservation (FP)? Design: Retrospective observational study including data from 485 women with endometriosis who underwent FP from January 2007 to July 2018. Survival curves and Kaplan-Meier plots were used to analyse the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) according to the number of vitrified oocytes used. Data were stratified according to age, stage of the disease and ovarian surgery prior to FP (operated vs. non-operated). Endometriosis curves were compared to plots developed using elective fertility preservation (EFP) patients as control group. Log-rank, Breslow and Tarone-Ware tests were used to compare the survival curves. Results: The CLBR increased as the number of oocytes used per patient rose, reaching 89.5% (95% CI=80.0-99.1) using 22 oocytes. Higher outcomes were observed in young women (≤35 y. vs. >35 y). In the younger group, the CLBR was 95.4% (95% CI=87.2-103.6) using ~20 oocytes vs. 79.6% (95% CI=58.1-101.1) in older women (P<0.05). No statistical differences were observed in overall calculations and according to age when the CLBR was compared between operated and non-operated women (NS). Comparable outcomes were also observed in stages I-II vs. III-IV (NS). The mean age was higher in EFP patients (37.2 ± 4.9 vs. 35.7 ± 3.7; P<0.05). The outcome was better in the endometriosis group as compared to EFP (P<0.05): a CLBR of 89.5% (80.0-99.1) vs. 59.9% (51.4-68.6) when 22 oocytes were used (P<0.05). However, the difference was milder when fewer oocytes were used in both groups. When comparisons were made between age-matching groups, no statistical differences were observed (NS). Conclusion: The probability of live birth increases as the number of oocytes used rises in patients with endometriosis, but better outcomes were observed among young women. Neither the stage of the disease nor prior surgical excision of ovarian endometrioma were related to success. No statistical differences in age matching groups were observed when comparing to EFP patients. The information provided herein may be of interest to both patients and treating physicians for counselling purposes

Influence of Titanium Oxide Pillar Array Nanometric Structures and Ultraviolet Irradiation on the Properties of the Surface of Dental Implants: A Pilot Study

Aim: Titanium implants are commonly used as replacement therapy for lost teeth and much current research is focusing on the improvement of the chemical and physical properties of their surfaces in order to improve the osseointegration process. TiO2, when it is deposited in the form of pillar array nanometric structures, has photocatalytic properties and wet surface control, which, together with UV irradiation, provide it with superhydrophilic surfaces, which may be of interest for improving cell adhesion on the peri-implant surface. In this article, we address the influence of this type of surface treatment on type IV and type V titanium discs on their surface energy and cell growth on them. Materials and methods: Samples from titanium rods used for making dental implants were used. There were two types of samples: grade IV and grade V. In turn, within each grade, two types of samples were differentiated: untreated and treated with sand blasting and subjected to double acid etching. Synthesis of the film consisting of titanium oxide pillar array structures was carried out using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition equipment. The plasma was generated in a quartz vessel by an external SLAN-1 microwave source with a frequency of 2.45 GHz. Five specimens from each group were used (40 discs in total). On the surfaces to be studied, the following determinations were carried out: (a) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, (b) scanning electron microscopy, (c) energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, (d) profilometry, (e) contact angle measurement or surface wettability, (f) progression of contact angle on applying ultraviolet irradiation, and (g) a biocompatibility test and cytotoxicity with cell cultures. Results: The application of ultraviolet light decreased the hydrophobicity of all the surfaces studied, although it did so to a greater extent on the surfaces with the studied modification applied, this being more evident in samples manufactured in grade V titanium. In samples made in grade IV titanium, this difference was less evident, and even in the sample manufactured with grade IV and SLA treatment, the application of the nanometric modification of the surface made the surface optically less active. Regarding cell growth, all the surfaces studied, grouped in relation to the presence or not of the nanometric treatment, showed similar growth. Conclusions. Treatment of titanium oxide surfaces with ultraviolet irradiation made them change temporarily into superhydrophilic ones, which confirms that their biocompatibility could be improved in this way, or at least be maintained

Integrated analysis of the health and social inequalities of Spanish adolescents

Este estudio descriptivo presenta el proceso hasta la creación de una puntuación global de la salud en los adolescentes. En los últimos años, el concepto de salud, en el que se basa este estudio, ha sufrido cambios para incluir tanto los elementos disfuncionales como las fortalezas que protegen la salud. La muestra estuvo formada por 18.955 adolescentes, representativos de la población de 11 a 18 años en España y en cada una de las Comunidades Autónomas que conforman el Estado español. Utilizando técnicas de análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio, los resultados mostraron una dimensión global de la salud, a partir de indicadores autoinformados de satisfacción vital, calidad de vida relacionada con la salud, percepción del estado general de salud y malestar psicosomático. Esta puntuación de salud disminuía a medida que aumentaba la edad y de manera más marcada en mujeres, así como en adolescentes de familias con capacidad adquisitiva baja. Los análisis comparativos entre Comunidades Autónomas mostraron diferencias entre ellas, no atribuibles en principio al bienestar económico de la región. Finalmente, se discutieron estos resultados y sus implicaciones, así como la importancia de la medida utilizada en el análisis de las desigualdades sociales en salud.This survey descriptive study presents the process leading up to the creation of a global health score for adolescents. In recent years, the concept of health, which is the bases for this study, has undergone changes to include both dysfunctional elements as well as the individual resources that protect health. The sample was made up of 18,955 adolescents between 11 to 18 years of age, in Spain and with participants in each of the regions making up the kingdom of Spain. Using exploratory and confirmatory factorial analysis techniques, the results showed a global dimension of the health, starting from self-report indicators of life satisfaction, health-related quality of life, perception of the general state of health and psychosomatic complaints. This health score decreased as age increased and more notably among girls, as well as in adolescents from low-income families. The comparative analyses between regions showed differences which were, in principle, not attributable to the economic well-being of the geographic area. Finally, these results and their implications were discussed, as well as the importance of the calculation used in the analysis of the social inequalities in health

Tecnologías educativas, habilidades sociales y la toma de decisiones en estudiantes universitarios

The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between educational technologies, social skills and decision making in university students of the Industrial Engineering School from a private university in Lima. This study was basic, its design was non-experimental and cross-sectional. The population was composed of 80 students. The survey was used as a technique and the questionnaire was used as its instrument. The questionnaire had Likert Scale questions. The results allowed determining that there is a significant relationship between educational technologies, social skills and decision making, with a significance lower than .05. La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar la relación que existe entre las tecnologías educativas, habilidades sociales y la toma de decisiones en estudiantes universitarios de la facultad de Ingeniería Industrial de una universidad privada de Lima. Este estudio fue de tipo básica, diseño no experimental-transversal. La población estuvo constituida por 80 alumnos. Se utilizó la técnica de la encuesta y su instrumento el cuestionario, con preguntas tipo escala de likert. Los resultados permitieron determinar que existe una relación significativa entre las tecnologías educativas, habilidades sociales y la toma de decisiones, con una significancia menor a .05

Analysis of the quality of life in persons with Wolfram Syndrome and their caregivers: sociological and psychological aspects

El Síndrome de Wolfram (SW) es una enfermedad “rara”, neurodegenerativa y progresiva. El trabajo evalúa la calidad de vida de las personas con SW y de sus cuidadores. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 27 afectados y 31 cuidadores. Los resultados mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos estudiados. Las personas afectadas por el SW tienen una mejor calidad de vida en relación a la ausencia de sobrecarga laboral y de tiempo libre, así como en su satisfacción general. Los cuidadores presentan una mejor calidad de vida en relación con el soporte social. Los datos evidencian la necesidad de crear programas de intervención para mejorar su calidad de vida.Wolfram Syndrome (WS) is a “rare” disease, neurodegenerative and progressive. This study assesses the quality of life of persons with SW and their caregivers. The sample consisted of 27 affected and 31 caregivers. The results showed statistically significant differences between the groups studied. Persons affected by WS have a better life quality in relationship with the absence of work overload and free time, and in the general satisfaction. The caregivers present a better quality of life in relationship with the social support. The data demonstrate the need to create intervention programs that allow improving their quality of life.Los autores agradecen el apoyo económico recibido para el desarrollo del presente trabajo, el cual forma parte del proyecto de investigación “Estudio del Fenotipo Clínico y Curso Evolutivo de Los Pacientes Españoles Con Síndrome de Wolfram” financiado por la Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía el año 2016 (Ref. PI-0410-2016)

Mechanical and physical performance of low alkalinity cementitiouscomposites reinforced with recycled cellulosic fibres pulp fromcement kraft bags

The objective of this work was to study the addition of cellulosic pulp in low alkalinity cement composites as well as its mechanical behavior under bending stresses before and after accelerated aging cycles.The cellulosic pulp was obtained from recycled Portland cement kraft bags used for packaging. Lowalkaline cementitious matrices were tested, reducing from 80 to 85% the content of Portland cement, inorder to reduce the use of the conventional raw materials, energy cost and mainly to avoid a possiblealkaline degradation of the cellulosic pulps. The cement matrix resulted from the ternary blend Portlandcement gypsum pozzolan (fly ash or catalytic cracking catalyst residue), with 50% by weight of gypsumand different percentages by weight of pozzolans. These composites were prepared in the laboratory usinga slurry vacuum dewatering followed by pressing technique. The four point-bending tests were carriedout to evaluate the mechanical behavior of the low alkalinity cementitious composites and compositewithout pozzolans at 28 days and after soak and dry accelerated aging tests. The low alkaline cementcomposites presented average values of modulus of rupture about 10 MPa after the aging cycles, with theindication that its flexural strength was not significantly affected by the degradation tests. In addition, theaverage values of specific energy of these composites were also acceptable after 100 soak and dry cyclesas compared to the composites with the Portland cement plain matrix. These results suggest that theuse of low alkalinity ternary binder system can be an effective contribution in order to avoid the severedamage on cellulosic fibers (which occurred when traditional pure Portland cement matrix is applied).Authors would thank International Relationship Department of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for the scholarship awarded and to the financial support and scholarships provided by Brazilian Agencies Fapesp and CNPq for the work carried out at FZEA USP Pirassununga.Marmol De Los Dolores, G.; Santos, SF.; Savastano, HJ.; Borrachero Rosado, MV.; Monzó Balbuena, JM.; Paya Bernabeu, JJ. (2013). Mechanical and physical performance of low alkalinity cementitiouscomposites reinforced with recycled cellulosic fibres pulp fromcement kraft bags. Industrial Crops and Products. 49:422-427. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.04.051S4224274