La construcción social de la "enfermedad de los nervios”: un síndrome cultural consecuencia de las violencias del conflicto armado sufridas por individuos de tres poblaciones rurales del Suroccidente de Colombia

This article presents the results of an ethnoepidemiological study on the cultural syndrome “the disease of the nerves”, that describes the way in which some members of rural populations of the south west of Colombia, who have suffered directly the violence of the armed actors in the Colombian conflict, have culturally constructed this syndrome from their experiences, the meaning they give it and the language of the symptoms they create, which allows them to communicate and describe their pain, anguish and sadness, as well as their understanding and way of communicating, live and overcome their sufferings and adversities. The study is based on a qualitative ethnographic methodology. The data collection techniques were participant observation, in-depth interviews and life stories. For data analysis, we proceeded to search for culturally constructed categories based on a pragmatic semantic model that allowed the content analysis to be organized. In the population interviewed, it was observed that the high level of resilience was presented in less than half of the sample, thus leaving more than 60 % of the people with mental and emotional problems inherent to the war, including post-traumatic stress. This work allows us to state that the ethnomedicine of these populations has responded to the aggressions of violence by armed actors, creating diagnostic and healing systems that are reflected in cultural syndromes such as “nerve disease”. A significant number of the people interviewed show long-term affectations that it is important to investigate with interdisciplinary teams that can understand the bio-psycho-social context that the peasant communities of the Colombian southwest have lived and are experiencing, and thus be able to elaborate appropriate interventions in the specific cultural contexts.En el texto se presentan los resultados de un estudio etnoepidemiológico  sobre el síndrome cultural la “enfermedad de los nervios”, que describe la manera como algunos miembros de poblaciones rurales del suroccidente de Colombia, que han sufrido de manera directa las violencias de los actores armados en el conflicto colombiano, han construido culturalmente este síndrome a partir de sus experiencias, el significado que le otorgan y el lenguaje de los síntomas que crean, lo cual les permite comunicar y describir sus dolores, angustias y tristezas, así como su comprensión y la manera de comunicar, vivir y superar los sufrimientos y las adversidades. El estudio se basa en una metodología cualitativa de tipo etnográfica. Las técnicas de recolección de datos fueron la observación participante, las entrevistas en profundidad y las historias de vida. Para el análisis de datos se procedió a la búsqueda de las categorías construidas culturalmente, basados en un modelo pragmático semántico que permitió organizar el análisis de contenido. En la población entrevistada se pudo apreciar que el nivel alto de resiliencia se presentó en menos de la mitad de la muestra, dejando así más del 60 % de las personas con problemas psíquicos y emocionales inherentes a la guerra; entre ellos, estrés postraumático. Este trabajo permite plantear que la etnomedicina de estas poblaciones ha respondido a las agresiones de la violencia de los actores armados creando sistemas de diagnóstico y curación que se reflejan en síndromes culturales como la “enfermedad de los nervios”. Un número importante de las personas entrevistadas muestra afectaciones de larga duración que es importante investigar con equipos interdisciplinarios que puedan entender el contexto bio-psico-social que han vivido y viven las comunidades campesinas del Suroccidente Colombiano, y así poder elaborar intervenciones adecuadas a los contextos culturales específicos

Tendencias de la bioantropología y un estudio de caso: su desarrollo académico en la Universidad del Cauca

Starting with the origins of physical (biological) anthropology, its trends and contents, the authors proposed the term bioanthropology to include a broader meaning which highlights its interdisciplinary profile and the use of mixed methods of research. To illustrate the development of such trends in Colombia, the history of the discipline at the University of Cauca as a case study is shown, reconstructing the beginning, and analyzing the dynamics of teaching and research in bioanthropology based on: academic programs since 1973, interviews with professors and some elements of the Elizabeth Tabares’ autoethnography. It also emphasizes the position of biomedical anthropology in Colombian Pacific populations developed by the University of Cauca.A partir de los orígenes de la antropología física (biológica), las tendencias en su designación y en sus contenidos, se propone que el término bioantropología tenga un significado más amplio que resalte su perfil interdisciplinar y el uso de métodos mixtos de investigación. Para ilustrar el desarrollo de dichas tendencias en Colombia, se muestra el estudio de caso de la disciplina en la Universidad del Cauca, sus inicios y las dinámicas de la docencia y la investigación bioantropológica. Se parte de los programas académicos desde 1973, entrevistas en profundidad con profesores y algunos elementos de la autoetnografía de Elizabeth Tabares. También se hace énfasis en el enfoque de la antropología biomédica de las poblaciones del Pacífico colombiano desarrollado en la Universidad del Cauca

The synaptic vesicle protein CSP alpha prevents presynaptic degeneration

Cysteine string protein α (CSPα)—an abundant synaptic vesicle protein that contains a DNA-J domain characteristic of Hsp40 chaperones—is thought to regulate Ca2+ channels and/or synaptic vesicle exocytosis. We now show that, in young mice, deletion of CSPα does not impair survival and causes no significant changes in presynaptic Ca2+ currents or synaptic vesicle exocytosis as measured in the Calyx of Held synapse. At 2–4 weeks of age, however, CSPα-deficient mice develop a progressive, fatal sensorimotor disorder. The neuromuscular junctions and Calyx synapses of CSPα-deficient mice exhibit increasing neurodegenerative changes, synaptic transmission becomes severely impaired, and the mutant mice die at ∼2 months of age. Our data suggest that CSPα is not essential for the normal operation of Ca2+ channels or exocytosis but acts as a presynaptic chaperone that maintains continued synaptic function, raising the possibility that enhanced CSPα function could attenuate neurodegenerative diseases

First beam test of Laser Engineered Surface Structures (LESS) at cryogenic temperature in CERN SPS accelerator

Electron cloud mitigation is an essential requirement for accelerators of positive particles with high intensity beams to guarantee beam stability and limited heat load in cryogenic systems. Laser Engineered Surface Structures (LESS) are being considered, within the High Luminosity upgrade of the LHC collider at CERN (HL-LHC), as an option to reduce the Secondary Electron Yield (SEY) of the surfaces facing the beam, thus suppressing the elec-tron cloud phenomenon. As part of this study, a 2.2 m long Beam Screen (BS) with LESS has been tested at cryogenic temperature in the COLD bore EXperiment (COLDEX) facility in the SPS accelerator at CERN. In this paper, we describe the manufacturing procedure of the beam screen, the employed laser treatment technique and discuss our first observations in COLDEX confirming electron cloud suppression.Electron cloud mitigation is an essential requirement for accelerators of positive particles with high intensity beams to guarantee beam stability and limited heat load in cryogenic systems. Laser Engineered Surface Structures (LESS) are being considered, within the High Luminosity upgrade of the LHC collider at CERN (HL-LHC), as an option to reduce the Secondary Electron Yield (SEY) of the surfaces facing the beam, thus suppressing the electron cloud phenomenon. As part of this study, a 2.2 m long Beam Screen (BS) with LESS has been tested at cryogenic temperature in the COLD bore EXperiment (COLDEX) facility in the SPS accelerator at CERN. In this paper, we describe the manufacturing procedure of the beam screen, the employed laser treatment technique and discuss our first observations in COLDEX confirming electron cloud suppression

Midlittoral macrophytobenthos and delimitation of areas sensitive to marine pollutants on the coast of Ceuta (Straits of Gibraltar)

The Straits of Gibraltar has one of the highest levels of shipping traffic in the world; consequently, it runs a high risk of suffering ecological disaster. The main objective of the present study was to delimit areas sensitive to anthropogenic perturbations according to information gathered from midlittoral macrophytobenthic communities. We focused mainly on species richness, which was comparatively higher at the North Bay stations, examining similarities among stations using classification and ordination analyses, together with β diversity indices. Both the ordination and classification analyses discriminated between the stations based on their geographical location, and confirmed the Atlantic influence in the North Bay and the Mediterranean influence in the South Bay. Three levels of different environmental sensitivity were established for priorities in future conservation. The westernmost region of the North Bay, together with the eastern zone (transitional area between the two bays), are those having the highest ecological value and vulnerability. The South Bay can be divided into an area with low ecological value, close to Moroccan waters, and an area with intermediate characteristics.El estrecho de Gibraltar es una de las áreas de mayor tránsito marítimo del mundo y, por tanto, de riesgo de catástrofe ecológica. El objetivo principal de este trabajo ha sido delimitar áreas sensibles a impactos antropogénicos, según la información obtenida del macrofitobentos mediolitoral. Se ha incidido especialmente en la riqueza específica, que fue comparativamente mayor en las estaciones situadas en la bahía norte. Mediante los análisis de clasificación y ordenación y la aplicación de los índices de diversidad β, se estudió la proximidad, en términos de similitud, de las estaciones de muestreo. Tanto el análisis de clasificación como el de ordenación discriminaron de forma clara las estaciones según su ubicación geográfica, confirmándose el carácter más atlántico de la bahía norte respecto a la bahía sur, de características más mediterráneas. Se fijaron tres niveles de diferente sensibilidad ambiental para establecer futuras prioridades de protección ante eventuales contingencias medioambientales. La región más occidental de la bahía norte junto con el tramo este (de transición entre bahías) constituyen áreas de mayor valor ecológico y vulnerabilidad, mientras que la bahía sur se divide en dos zonas: una de menor valor ecológico, correspondiente al tramo más cercano a la frontera con Marruecos, y otra con estaciones de valores intermedios.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

CD28 between tolerance and autoimmunity: The side effects of animal models [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

Regulation of immune responses is critical for ensuring pathogen clearance and for preventing reaction against self-antigens. Failure or breakdown of immunological tolerance results in autoimmunity. CD28 is an important co-stimulatory receptor expressed on T cells that, upon specific ligand binding, delivers signals essential for full T-cell activation and for the development and homeostasis of suppressive regulatory T cells. Many in vivo mouse models have been used for understanding the role of CD28 in the maintenance of immune homeostasis, thus leading to the development of CD28 signaling modulators that have been approved for the treatment of some autoimmune diseases. Despite all of this progress, a deeper understanding of the differences between the mouse and human receptor is required to allow a safe translation of pre-clinical studies in efficient therapies. In this review, we discuss the role of CD28 in tolerance and autoimmunity and the clinical efficacy of drugs that block or enhance CD28 signaling, by highlighting the success and failure of pre-clinical studies, when translated to humans

Association of anorexia nervosa with risk of cancer. A systematic review and meta-analysis

This is the final version. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.IMPORTANCE Anorexia nervosa is recognized as an important cause of morbidity in young people. However, the risk of cancer in people with anorexia nervosa remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of anorexia nervosa with the risk of developing or dying of cancer. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science from database inception to January 9, 2019. STUDY SELECTION Published observational studies in humans examining the risk of cancer in people with anorexia nervosa compared with the general population or those without anorexia nervosa. Studies needed to report incidence or mortality rate ratios (RRs). DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Screening, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment were performed by at least 2 researchers independently. A random-effects model was used to synthesize individual studies. Heterogeneity (I 2 ) was assessed and 95% prediction intervals (PIs) were calculated. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES All cancer incidence and cancer mortality associated with anorexia nervosa. Secondary outcomes were site-specific cancer incidence and mortality. RESULTS Seven cohort studies published in 10 articles (42 602 participants with anorexia nervosa) were included. Anorexia nervosa was not associated with risk of developing any cancer (4 studies in women; RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.89-1.06; P = .53; I 2 , 0%; 95% PI, 0.80-1.18; moderate confidence). Anorexia nervosa was associated with decreased breast cancer incidence (5 studies in women; RR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.50-0.80; P < .001; I 2 , 0%; 95% PI, 0.44-0.83; high confidence). Conversely, anorexia nervosa was associated with increased risk of developing lung cancer (3 studies in women; RR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.06-2.12; P = .001; I 2 , 0%; 95% PI, 0.19-16.46; low confidence) and esophageal cancer (2 studies in women; RR, 6.10; 95% CI, 2.30-16.18; P < .001; I 2 , 0%; low confidence). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among people with anorexia nervosa, risk of developing cancer did not differ compared with the general population, but a significantly reduced risk of breast cancer was observed. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these associations could have important preventive potentialGeneralitat ValencianaCarlos III Health Institut