Medical Laboratory Accreditation according to ISO 15189:2003.The Mexican Experience

Međunarodna norma ISO15189:2003 iziskuje od laboratorija da udovolje zahtjevima za upravljanje kvalitetom kao i tehničkim uvjetima, uključujući prije- i poslije-analitičke faze te sam analitički proces. Norma obuhvaća i teme kao što su sigurnost i etika u medicinskom laboratoriju. S obzirom da se primjenjuju lokalni, nacionalni i regionalni propisi, ISO 15189:2003 traži da medicinski laboratoriji dokažu svoju kompetentnost neovisnom procjenitelju, a to je obično nacionalno akreditacijsko tijelo. U Meksiku je vlada imenovala Meksički akreditacijski entitet (EMA) za akreditiranje medicinskih laboratorija u skladu s ISO15189:2003; ta organizacija djeluje usko surađujući s Meksičkim društvom za kliničku biokemiju (AMBC).International standard ISO15189:2003 requires that laboratories comply with requirements for quality management and technical requirements, including pre-and post-analytical phases, as well as the analytical process itself. Topics such as laboratory safety and medical laboratory ethics are also included. As local, national and regional regulations may apply, ISO15189:2003 requires that medical laboratories demonstrate their competence to a third party assessor, which is usually a national accreditation body. In Mexico, the government has appointed the Mexican Accreditation Entity (EMA), to accredit medical laboratories in accordance to ISO 15189:2003; this organization works in close cooperation with the Mexican Association of Clinical Biochemistry (AMBC)

Childhood abuse in the etiological continuum underlying psychosis from first-episode psychosis to psychotic experiences

GOAL: The present study aimed to examine the prevalence of child abuse across the continuum of psychosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 198 individuals divided in three groups: (1) 48 FEP patients, (2) 77 individuals scoring high in Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE), classified as 'High CAPE' group and (3) 73 individuals scoring low, classified as 'Low CAPE' group. Childhood abuse was assessed using self-report instruments. Chi(2) tests and logistic regression models controlling by sex, age and cannabis were used to perform three comparisons: (i) FEP vs. Low CAPE; (ii) FEP vs. High CAPE and (iii) High CAPE vs. Low CAPE. RESULTS: The frequency of individuals exposed to childhood abuse for FEP, High CAPE and Low CAPE groups were 52.1%, 41.6% and 11%, respectively. FEP and High CAPE group presented significantly higher rates of childhood abuse compared to Low CAPE group, however, no significant differences were found between FEP and High CAPE groups regarding the frequency of childhood abuse. CONCLUSION: There is an increasing frequency of childhood abuse from low subclinical psychosis to FEP patients. However, childhood abuse is equally common in FEP and at risk individuals

Col·leccions singulars a les biblioteques de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Les biblioteques de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona són, com la mateixa institució, entitats amb una història curta; però, malgrat que van començar la seva activitat fa menys de cinquanta anys, els seus fons han assolit una importància considerable i superen en quantitat els de moltes universitats centenàries del nostre context. Les col·leccions de fons antics de les biblioteques de la UAB són, per aquesta mateixa raó, limitades, si bé se n'han anat creant algunes d'especialitzades d'importància i valor singulars. Aquest llibre pretén donar-les a conèixer al món universitari, però també al públic en general. Moltes són col·leccions úniques, fruit del treball persistent del personal bibliotecari, del professorat i de la generositat de moltes persones particulars, que han donat o llegat a la nostra universitat els seus arxius, les seves biblioteques personals o les seves col·leccions especialitzades. Aquestes col·leccions comprenen molts àmbits de les ciències i de les humanitats i, molt sovint, es tracta de col·leccions úniques al nostre país. Hi trobareu també un ampli ventall de tipologies documentals en llengües diverses, des dels mapes fins als audiovisuals, des de les revistes i diaris fins als cartells, des dels fons antics fins als més actuals, arxius personals i fons institucionals. Les biblioteques de la Universitat, a més d'inventariar i catalogar aquests fons documentals, també porten a terme una tasca constant de preservació i difusió, que sovint inclou la digitalització dels documents, que després es posen a l'abast del públic general mitjançant el dipòsit digital institucional (ddd.uab.cat)

Study and characterization of global solar radiation and incident UV in the city of Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico

Controlled sun exposure can greatly benefit vitamin D synthesis, however, irresponsible sun exposure can cause considerable biological damage. Among the extraterrestrial solar radiation that reaches the earth's surface, UV rays are characterized by having the shortest wavelengths (less than 400 nm) and the highest frequencies, which is why they concentrate a large amount of energy. In particular, radiation with wavelengths less than 300 nm can alter DNA molecules and cause biological damage such as skin changes, cataracts, possible mutations, immunosuppression, photoaging and many other conditions. Therefore, this research estimates the global solar radiation and the incident daily UV radiation, as well as the UV index in order to identify the possible dose of absorbed radiation and consequently identify the relevant protection actions for the local population

Neurocognitive Profile of the Post-COVID Condition in Adults in Catalonia-A Mixed Method Prospective Cohort and Nested Case-Control Study : Study Protocol

Altres ajuts: This study is also supported in part by grants from the CIBER-Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-(CB 2021), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Unión Europea, NextGenerationEU.The diagnosis of the post-COVID condition is usually achieved by excluding other diseases; however, cognitive changes are often found in the post-COVID disorder. Therefore, monitoring and treating the recovery from the post-COVID condition is necessary to establish biomarkers to guide the diagnosis of symptoms, including cognitive impairment. Our study employs a prospected cohort and nested case-control design with mixed methods, including statistical analyses, interviews, and focus groups. Our main aim is to identify biomarkers (functional and structural neural changes, inflammatory and immune status, vascular and vestibular signs and symptoms) easily applied in primary care to detect cognitive changes in post-COVID cases. The results will open up a new line of research to inform diagnostic and therapeutic decisions with special considerations for cognitive impairment in the post-COVID condition

Consumption of caffeinated beverages and kidney function decline in an elderly Mediterranean population with metabolic syndrome

It remains unclear whether caffeinated beverages could have deleterious renal effects in elderly population with underlying comorbid conditions. We investigated the associations between coffee, tea, or caffeine intake and 1-year changes in glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in a large Spanish cohort of overweight/obese elderly with metabolic syndrome (MetS). This prospective analysis includes 5851 overweight/obese adults (55-75 years) with MetS from the PREDIMED-Plus study. We assessed coffee, tea, and caffeine consumption from a validated food-frequency questionnaire and creatinine-based eGFR using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Multivariate-adjusted regression models were applied to test associations between baseline coffee, tea, or caffeine intake and 1-year eGFR changes. Caffeinated coffee (> 2 cups/day) and tea (at least 1 cup/day) drinkers had 0.88 and 0.93 mL/min/1.73 m2 greater eGFR decrease respectively, compared to those with less than 1 cup/day of coffee consumption or non-tea drinkers. Furthermore, caffeinated coffee consumption of > 2 cups/day was associated with 1.19-fold increased risk of rapid eGFR decline > 3 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI 1.01-1.41). Similarly, individuals in the highest (median, 51.2 mg/day) tertile of caffeine intake had a 0.87 mL/min/1.73 m2 greater eGFR decrease. Decaffeinated coffee was not associated with eGFR changes. In conclusion, higher consumption of caffeinated coffee, tea, and caffeine was associated with a greater 1-year eGFR decline in overweight/obese adults with MetS

Dietary intake of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans, adiposity and obesity status

Introduction: The principal source of exposure to Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furans (PCDD/Fs) in humans comes from food intake. PCDD/Fs, are a family of potential endocrine disruptors and have been associated with different chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. However, studies assessing the relationship between dietary exposure to PCDD/Fs and adiposity or obesity status in a middle-aged population are limited. Objective: To assess cross-sectionally and longitudinally the associations between estimated dietary intake (DI) of PCDD/Fs and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and the prevalence/incidence of obesity and abdominal obesity in a middle-aged population. Methods: In 5899 participants aged 55-75 years (48% women) living with overweight/obesity from the PREDIMED-plus cohort, PCDD/Fs DI was estimated using a 143-item validated food-frequency questionnaire, and the levels of food PCDD/F expressed as Toxic Equivalents (TEQ). Consequently, cross-sectional and prospective associations between baseline PCDD/Fs DI (in pgTEQ/week) and adiposity or obesity status were assessed at baseline and after 1-year follow-up using multivariable cox, logistic or linear regression models. Results: Compared to participants in the first PCDD/F DI tertile, those in the highest tertile presented a higher BMI (β-coefficient [confidence interval]) (0.43kg/m2 [0.22; 0.64]; P-trend <0.001), a higher waist circumference (1.11 cm [0.55; 1.66]; P-trend <0.001), and a higher prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity (1.05 [1.01; 1.09] and 1.02 [1.00; 1.03]; P-trend = 0.09 and 0.027, respectively). In the prospective analysis, participants in the top PCDD/F DI baseline tertile showed an increase in waist circumference compared with those in the first tertile after 1-year of follow-up (β-coefficient 0.37 cm [0.06; 0.70]; P-trend = 0.015). Conclusion: Higher DI of PCDD/Fs was positively associated with adiposity parameters and obesity status at baseline and with changes in waist circumference after 1-year of follow-up in subjects living with overweight/obesity. Further large prospective studies using a different population with longer follow-up periods are warranted in the future to strengthen our results. Keywords: Abdominal obesity; Adiposity; Endocrine disrupting chemicals; Obesity; Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furans (PCDD/F)

Circulating carotenoids are associated with favorable lipid and fatty acid profiles in an older population at high cardiovascular risk

Carotenoid intake has been reported to be associated with improved cardiovascular health, but there is little information on actual plasma concentrations of these compounds as biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk. The objective was to investigate the association between circulating plasma carotenoids and different cardiometabolic risk factors and the plasma fatty acid profile. This is a cross-sectional evaluation of baseline data conducted in a subcohort (106 women and 124 men) of an ongoing multi-factorial lifestyle trial for primary cardiovascular prevention. Plasma concentrations of carotenoids were quantified by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The associations between carotenoid concentrations and cardiometabolic risk factors were assessed using regression models adapted for interval-censored variables. Carotenoid concentrations were cross-sectionally inversely associated with serum triglyceride concentrations [-2.79 mg/dl (95% CI: -4.25, -1.34) and -5.15 mg/dl (95% CI: -7.38, -2.93), p-values = 0.0002 and <0.00001 in women and men, respectively], lower levels of plasma saturated fatty acids [-0.09% (95% CI: -0.14, -0.03) and -0.15 % (95% CI: -0.23, -0.08), p-values = 0.001 and 0.0001 in women and men, respectively], and higher levels of plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids [(0.12 % (95% CI: -0.01, 0.25) and 0.39 % (95% CI: 0.19, 0.59), p-values = 0.065 and 0.0001 in women and men, respectively] in the whole population. Plasma carotenoid concentrations were also associated with higher plasma HDL-cholesterol in women [0.47 mg/dl (95% CI: 0.23, 0.72), p-value: 0.0002], and lower fasting plasma glucose in men [-1.35 mg/dl (95% CI: -2.12, -0.59), p-value: 0.001]. Keywords: Mediterranean diet; PREDIMED-plus study; cardiovascular health; liquid chromatography; mass spectrometry; plasma carotenoids

A chemical survey of exoplanets with ARIEL

Thousands of exoplanets have now been discovered with a huge range of masses, sizes and orbits: from rocky Earth-like planets to large gas giants grazing the surface of their host star. However, the essential nature of these exoplanets remains largely mysterious: there is no known, discernible pattern linking the presence, size, or orbital parameters of a planet to the nature of its parent star. We have little idea whether the chemistry of a planet is linked to its formation environment, or whether the type of host star drives the physics and chemistry of the planet’s birth, and evolution. ARIEL was conceived to observe a large number (~1000) of transiting planets for statistical understanding, including gas giants, Neptunes, super-Earths and Earth-size planets around a range of host star types using transit spectroscopy in the 1.25–7.8 μm spectral range and multiple narrow-band photometry in the optical. ARIEL will focus on warm and hot planets to take advantage of their well-mixed atmospheres which should show minimal condensation and sequestration of high-Z materials compared to their colder Solar System siblings. Said warm and hot atmospheres are expected to be more representative of the planetary bulk composition. Observations of these warm/hot exoplanets, and in particular of their elemental composition (especially C, O, N, S, Si), will allow the understanding of the early stages of planetary and atmospheric formation during the nebular phase and the following few million years. ARIEL will thus provide a representative picture of the chemical nature of the exoplanets and relate this directly to the type and chemical environment of the host star. ARIEL is designed as a dedicated survey mission for combined-light spectroscopy, capable of observing a large and well-defined planet sample within its 4-year mission lifetime. Transit, eclipse and phase-curve spectroscopy methods, whereby the signal from the star and planet are differentiated using knowledge of the planetary ephemerides, allow us to measure atmospheric signals from the planet at levels of 10–100 part per million (ppm) relative to the star and, given the bright nature of targets, also allows more sophisticated techniques, such as eclipse mapping, to give a deeper insight into the nature of the atmosphere. These types of observations require a stable payload and satellite platform with broad, instantaneous wavelength coverage to detect many molecular species, probe the thermal structure, identify clouds and monitor the stellar activity. The wavelength range proposed covers all the expected major atmospheric gases from e.g. H2O, CO2, CH4 NH3, HCN, H2S through to the more exotic metallic compounds, such as TiO, VO, and condensed species. Simulations of ARIEL performance in conducting exoplanet surveys have been performed – using conservative estimates of mission performance and a full model of all significant noise sources in the measurement – using a list of potential ARIEL targets that incorporates the latest available exoplanet statistics. The conclusion at the end of the Phase A study, is that ARIEL – in line with the stated mission objectives – will be able to observe about 1000 exoplanets depending on the details of the adopted survey strategy, thus confirming the feasibility of the main science objectives.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Adopting a High-Polyphenolic Diet Is Associated with an Improved Glucose Profile: Prospective Analysis within the PREDIMED-Plus Trial

Previous studies suggested that dietary polyphenols could reduce the incidence and complications of type-2 diabetes (T2D); although the evidence is still limited and inconsistent. This work analyzes whether changing to a diet with a higher polyphenolic content is associated with an improved glucose profile. At baseline, and at 1 year of follow-up visits, 5921 participants (mean age 65.0 ± 4.9, 48.2% women) who had overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome filled out a validated 143-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), from which polyphenol intakes were calculated. Energy-adjusted total polyphenols and subclasses were categorized in tertiles of changes. Linear mixed-effect models with random intercepts (the recruitment centers) were used to assess associations between changes in polyphenol subclasses intake and 1-year plasma glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Increments in total polyphenol intake and some classes were inversely associated with better glucose levels and HbA1c after one year of follow-up. These associations were modified when the analyses were run considering diabetes status separately. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the relationship between changes in the intake of all polyphenolic groups and T2D-related parameters in a senior population with T2D or at high-risk of developing T2