Habitat use by Gadiculus argenteus (Pisces, Gadidae) in the Galician and Cantabrian Sea waters (NE Atlantic)

Forage fish species play a crucial role in most ecosystems, transferring energy from plankton to larger fishes. Therefore, understanding the factors driving the dynamics of forage fish populations is essential in marine ecosystems. Gadiculus argenteus is an important forage fish species in the Galicia and Cantabrian Sea ecosystem. In this study, the influence of several biotic and abiotic factors on the distribution of this species was examined using generalized additive models in a 2-step approach. G. argenteus habitat preference was not affected by changes in annual abundance during the study period (1998-2019). From the variables selected in the final models, depth and geographic location (latitude and longitude) were the most important factors to describe the presence of G. argenteus. Peak abundance was found on the upper slope and although the species was found throughout the study area, its higher abundance values were located in Galician waters. The species seemed to avoid coarse sand bottoms, with mean chlorophyll a concentration showing a positive effect on the presence and abundance of G. argenteus. Interestingly, the observed aggregations of G. argenteus showed a remarkable similarity to the commercial trawling footprint in the area, suggesting a strong link between the distribution of this forage species and the distribution of its predators, most of which are important commercial species. Further work should focus on a better understanding of this relationship to provide important information on the study of the structure and functioning of the marine ecosystem of the northern Spanish continental shelf.Versión del editor2,48

Vasoactive intestinal peptide axis is dysfunctional in patients with Graves’ disease

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide with potent immunoregulatory properties. Reduced serum VIP levels and alterations in VIP receptors/signaling on immune cells have been associated with different inflammatory/autoimmune diseases. However, its role in autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) remains unknown. This study examined the interrelationship between VIP system, autoimmune background and thyroid hormones in peripheral immune cells in patients with AITD. Only Graves’ disease (GD) patients showed significantly lower serum VIP levels when compared to healthy subjects and to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients. Serum VIP levels were lower at the onset of GD, showing a significant negative correlation with thyroid hormone levels. The expression of VIP receptors, VPAC1 and VPAC2, was significantly upregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from GD patients. There was an impairment of VIP signalling in these patients, probably attributable to a dysfunction of VPAC1 with preservation of VPAC2. The correlation between VPAC1 and thyroid hormone receptor expression in PBMC from healthy subjects was lost in GD patients. In summary, the VIP system is altered in peripheral immune cells of GD patients and this finding is associated with different thyroid hormone receptor patterns, showing a dynamic inter-regulation and a prominent role of VIP in this setting.This work has been supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain, cofinanced by FEDER, European Union: RETICS program, Red de Investigación en Inflamación y Enfermedades Reumáticas (RD16/0012/0008, PI17/00027, PI16-02091, PIE13-0004) and from Consejería de Educación, Juventud y Deporte, Comunidad de Madrid: B2017/BMD372

LAT-1 and GLUT-1 Carrier Expression and Its Prognostic Value in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Cancer cells develop mechanisms that increase nutrient uptake, including key nutrient carriers, such as amino acid transporter 1 (LAT-1) and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1), regulated by the oxygen-sensing Von Hippel Lindau-hypoxia-inducible factor (VHL-HIF) transcriptional pathway. We aimed to analyze these metabolic players in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NET) and correlate them with tumor malignancy and progression. LAT-1, GLUT-1, and pVHL expression was analyzed in 116 GEP-NETs and 48 peritumoral tissue samples by immunohistochemistry. LAT-1 was stably silenced using specific shRNA in the human NET BON cell line. LAT-1 expression was significantly increased in tumor tissue compared to non-tumor tissue in both gastrointestinal (67% vs. 44%) and pancreatic NETs (54% vs. 31%). Similarly, GLUT-1 was substantially elevated in gastrointestinal (74% vs. 19%) and pancreatic (58% vs. 4%) NETs. In contrast, pVHL expression was decreased (85% vs. 58%) in pancreatic NETs. Tumors with metastases at diagnosis displayed increased LAT-1 and GLUT-1 and decreased pVHL expression (p < 0.001). In accordance with these data, silencing LAT-1 curtailed cell proliferation in BON cells. These findings suggest that specific mechanisms that increase nutrient uptake, such as LAT-1 and GLUT-1, are increased in GEP-NETs, whereas pVHL is decreased. These markers might be related to the proliferation and metastatic capacity of these tumors

Experiencia en el uso del portafolio por medio de las redes sociales

[EN] At the UPV, the EICE teams: QtalNET and IEMA, are performing toghether the PIME project "Social ePortfolios", in which they are testing different assessment's techniques through electronic portfolios and social networks.The aim of the project is to develop a protocol to use social media through the process of creating e-portfolios, with the objective of value the skills acquired by students.This article describes the project and the experience consistent in various subjects, from different degrees, to evaluate the portfolios presented. Students can implement the portfolio through social networks (experimental group) or through a document (control groups). The develop is individual in every case. The weight of the portfolio in the evaluation goes from 60% to 100% (depending on the subject). The oral defense is realized to all the students (no matter if they are the experimental or the control group), they are given a brief guide with the aim of have the same structure to compare between different portfolios. In this article the method is exposed, as well as the reflections on their use.[ES] El objetivo principal del proyecto es elaborar un protocolo que permita usar las redes sociales durante el proceso de creación de portafolios electrónico para la evaluación de las competencias adquiridas por los alumnos. En este artículo se presenta el proyecto, así como la experiencia que se está realizando consistente en experimentar en diversas asignaturas de diferentes titulaciones el portafolios para evaluar. Los alumnos pueden implementar el portafolio a través de las redes sociales (grupos experimentales) o por medio de un documento (grupos de control). La realización en todos los casos es individual. El peso del portafolio en la evaluación va desde un 60% a un 100% (dependiendo de la asignatura). La defensa se realiza oralmente y a todos los alumnos (tanto si son del grupo experimental como de control) se les proporciona una breve guía para que la estructura pueda ser comparable entre los diferentes portafolios. En el presente artículo se expone el método seguido así como las reflexiones sobre su uso.Los autores deseamos agradecer su apoyo a la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Informática (ETSINF), al Departamento de Informática de Sistemas y Computadores (DISCA) de la Universitat Politécnica de València (UPV) por su apoyo. El presente trabajo está realizado bajo el programa de Proyectos de Innovación y Mejora Educativa (PIME) el proyecto “Social ePortafolios: apoyo a la evaluación con portafolios electrónicos mediante redes sociales” sustentado por el Insitituto de Ciencias de la Educación (ICE) de la UPV.Poza-Lujan, J.; Cabrera, M.; Rebollo Pedruelo, M.; Calduch Losa, MDLA.; Díez-Somavilla, R.; Lloret Romero, MN.; Despujol Zabala, I.... (2015). Experiencia en el uso del portafolio por medio de las redes sociales. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2015.2015.1572

Hypophysitis following Treatment with Ustekinumab: Radiological and Pathological Findings

ContextUstekinumab is a human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, which may be useful in the treatment of autoimmune conditions such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn’s disease. Hypophysitis is an immune-derived inflammatory condition of the pituitary gland that may lead to pituitary dysfunction. With the increasing use of immunotherapy, it is possible that this and other new immune-related adverse events (IRAEs) arise, although the mechanisms involved are still incompletely defined.Case descriptionA 35-year-old male, with a previous history of severe plaque-psoriasis who had started treatment with ustekinumab 4 months before, complained of progressive and persistent headache. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was unremarkable. One year later, a new MRI was performed due to headache persistence, which revealed a homogenous and diffuse pituitary enlargement, with suprasellar extension and optic chiasm involvement, blurring of the pituitary stalk, absence of clear differentiation between the anterior and posterior lobes, and no signs of hemorrhage or adenomas. Endocrine evaluation was consistent with panhypopituitarism. Work-up of infiltrative and infectious diseases was negative. Follow-up MRI revealed an increase in the pituitary enlargement and transsphenoidal surgery was performed. Pathological findings revealed an intense fibrosis and a chronic inflammatory infiltrate, but no evidence of adenoma, granuloma, or acid fast bacilli. Immunohistochemical staining showed a combined T-cell (CD3+, CD4+) and B-cell (CD19+, CD20+) phenotype.ConclusionWe suggest a novel IRAE of ustekinumab, with full radiological and immunopathological iconography, which may be mediated by the complex interaction between different immunological processes

Desarrollo de una guía para el uso de los social media en la mejora de la comunicación profesor-alumno. Aplicación al aprendizaje inverso

[Otros] Universities have experienced a significative advance in the use of social networks as a support of high education processes. Through the experience of QTALNET, a research group about the use of social networks in learning (EICE-UPV program), we have observed the advantages of the use of social networks and the benefit provided to students and other teachers. Currently, there is a trend in the application of a learning methodology known as flip teaching, flipped classroom or reverse teaching. In this methodology, is the student who must first prepare the session, usually through the individual study of theoretical concepts. The face to face session becomes an collaborative, application session (usually groupal practical exercises) to resolve doubts and consolidate the concepts. In this paper, the basis for the use of social networks in teaching methodology based on a flipped learning classroom is presented. Social networks are perfect to be applied in this type of methodology, allowing sharing resources, comment and establish fluid communication between all participants[ES] La utilización de las redes sociales como apoyo a la docencia universitaria es un avance que está experimentado la universidad. A lo largo de la experiencia del grupo QTALNET, como grupo de investigación basado en la docencia apoyada en redes sociales dentro del programa de grupos EICE de la UPV, hemos observado las ventajas que tiene el uso de las redes sociales y hemos experimentado el beneficio que ofrecen a los alumnos y a otros docentes. Actualmente existe una tendencia en la aplicación de la metodología docente conocida como flip teaching, flipped classroom o aprendizaje inverso. Dicha metodología consiste en que el alumno debe preparar previamente la sesión docente (generalmente los conceptos teóricos) y consultar al profesor, o a los compañeros, aquellas dudas que surjan en esta fase. La sesión presencial se convierte en una sesión de aplicación (generalmente ejercicios prácticos) y colaboración para la resolución de las dudas y el afianzamiento de los conceptos. En este artículo, se sientan las bases para el empleo de las redes sociales en la docencia basada en a metodología flipped classroom. Las redes sociales son perfectas para ser aplicadas en este tipo de metodologías, ya que permiten compartir material, comentarlo y establecer una comunicación fluida entre todos los participantes.El presente trabajo se ha realizado gracias al proyecto PIME A12/13: Elaboración de la guía de uso eficaz de las redes sociales en la docencia universitaria, de la Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaCalduch-Losa, Á.; Teruel Serrano, MD.; Poza-Lujan, J.; Cabrera, M.; Albors, A.; Rebollo Pedruelo, M.; Díez-Somavilla, R. (2014). Desarrollo de una guía para el uso de los social media en la mejora de la comunicación profesor-alumno. Aplicación al aprendizaje inverso. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 553-564. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/168628S55356